International airlines expect a 4.2% growth in the number of passengers

The international airlines expect an increase of 4.2% in the number of transported passengers, indicate the forecasts of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), posted on the website of the organisation. The expectations are by 0.2% higher than the results, predicted in December last year. In January, the number of transported passengers increased by 2.9 %, compared with the same period in 2011, while the clients using economy class increased by 6.1%.

The transported air freight retained its levels from the fourth quarter of 2011 and remained with a relatively low performance. In the second half of the year, IATA expects a mounting increase in the transported air freight. "2012 continues to be a difficult year for the airline companies. The risk of the deepening crisis in the Eurozone has been replaced by the equally dangerous risk coming from the rising fuel prices," commented Tony Tyler, Director General of IATA. In his words, some deterioration have already being felt due to the slump in the industrial profits by $ 3 bn. However, the organisation expects the profits for 2011 to reach $ 7.9 bn, while the preliminary estimates projected proceeds of $ 6.9 bn. This is mainly due to the higher results, reported by the Chinese air carriers.

The processed cargo and mail shipments at the Sofia Airport for February this year reached 1, 277 tonnes, which is 14.3% more than last year, according to the statistics of the Sofia Airport. In fact, the transported air freight by cargo airplanes increased by 22%, while the rate of those dispatched by international regular airlines rose by 8%. The data shows that in the second month of 2012, the airport served overall 237,600 passengers, which is by 5, 500 less clients than in February 2011. A positive increase was reported in the number of passengers, who travelled by the regular international airline (2%) and with respect to the business aviation clients (39%). A smaller growth was reported in the number of passengers traveling to Burgas and in the organised tourists, visiting the Bulgarian ski resorts.

As of March 25, the Bulgaria Air national carrier will launch direct flights to Prague, which will be operated six times a week, announced the airline. After the completion of the repair and maintenance activities and the opening of a new runway at the Varna Airport, the daily scheduled flights from Sofia to Varna Airport have been restored. Besides, the low-cost Wizz Air company will open a new route from Budapest to Sofia.

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