Global passenger traffic results for February 2014 shows demand growth of 5.4% compared to February 2013, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
 
Although this represented a slowdown compared to the January traffic increase of 8.2%, cumulative traffic growth for the first two months of 2014 was 6.9%, which compares favorably with the 5.2% overall growth achieved in 2013.

February capacity rose 5.2% and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage points to 78.1%. All regions except Africa experienced positive traffic growth.

"People are flying. Strong demand is consistent with the pick-up in global economic growth, particularly in advanced economies," said Tony Tyler, IATA's director general and CEO.

February international passenger traffic rose 5.5% compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 5.8% and load factor slipped 0.2 percentage points to 76.8%. All regions recorded year-over-year increases in demand.

While, domestic markets rose 5.3% in February compared to a year ago. Total domestic capacity was up 4.1% and load factor rose 0.9 percentage points to 80.4%.
 
"The strong demand for air travel at a time of rising business and consumer confidence is indicative of the symbiotic relationship between aviation and economic growth. The connectivity provided by aviation both enables and sustains trade and development, while economic activity creates demand for aviation. Governments that treat aviation as if it were a luxury item or a necessary evil are depriving their populations of a key engine of growth and job creation," said Tyler.
 
"This latest effort is half-hearted at best. Instead of immediately addressing the economic damage of this misguided tax, the government will eliminate the highest bands from next year. The APD is a drag on the UK economy that far outweighs even the billions of pounds that it siphons from the pockets of travelers. The government's tinkering pays little more than lip service to this fact. It's time for decisive action. Taxing a necessity like connectivity as if it were a social indulgence hurts the economy. A comprehensive review is needed," Tyler added.