Global Airline Capacity Grows for 10th Consecutive Month

Continued Tough Trading Conditions in North America impacts aviation markets as Airline Capacity within the region declines in March

CHICAGO, March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The growth in scheduled flights worldwide continues again in March, albeit at a slower rate than in February, with airlines providing 2% more flights. The trend for larger aircraft is set to continue as capacity increases at a higher rate of 3%. This marks the tenth consecutive month of growth compared to the same period last year, according to the latest statistics from OAG, a UBM Aviation brand.

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The OAG FACTS (Frequency and Capacity Trend Statistics) for March 2012 reveals that whilst the global picture remains encouraging, the growth is not reflected across all regions. Capacity growth across the Middle East and South / Central America regions is strongest at 10% and 9% respectively and is accompanied by similarly high frequency growth rates of 9% for the Middle East region and 7% for South / Central America. The continued challenging economic situations in North America and Europe are not without their side-effects for those airline markets. North America sees a 1% decline in capacity and accompanied by a 3% decline in frequencies with Europe looking at a 2% decline in frequencies with capacity remaining flat year on year.

"The frequency and capacity trends for March 2012 are representative of the differing regional economic conditions," said Mike Malik, Chief Commercial Officer UBM Aviation. "As Airlines adapt their strategies to meet these conditions we will undoubtedly see them looking further afield for growth."

A detailed review of the OAG FACTS statistics for February 2012 – including information, commentary and charts about specific airports, routes, countries and regions worldwide – is available to download now at www.oagaviation.com/OAG-FACTS/2012/March-Executive-Summary.

Editors' Notes:

• OAG, a UBM Aviation brand, is the trusted source for aviation information and analytical services. Our leading aviation databases unrivalled in their scale, accuracy and comprehensiveness are integral to the worlds' aviation industry operations. For more information, visit www.oag.com.
• OAG FACTS provides a visual snapshot of airline activity around the world, updated monthly. It uses interactive graphs to display 10-year performance trends from OAG's consolidated database of global airline schedules.
• UBM Aviation, a UBM plc company, is the pioneer of innovative market leading aviation solutions. Our instantly recognisable brands provide the data, analysis, events, media and consultancy services that drive route development and financial growth for our customers' businesses. For more information, visit www.ubmaviation.com.