Passenger traffic results for November 2017 showed continued robust demand, the International Air Transport Association said in a recent statement.

Total revenue passenger kilometres rose 8%, compared with November 2016 – the fastest growth rate in five months – and was up from a 7.3% year-on-year rise in October.

Capacity increased by 6.3% and load factor rose 1.2 percentage points to 80.2%.

“The airline industry is in a good place entering 2018. November’s strong demand gives the industry momentum. The number of unique city-pair connections now tops 20 000,” said director-general Alexandre de Juniac in a statement.

He further noted that passengers now not only have more travel choices than ever before, but the cost of travel in real terms has also “never been cheaper”.

He added, however, that challenges remain.

“Security threats continue, infrastructure issues persist, fees and charges are a growing part of the cost base and, in many cases, airports and air traffic management struggle to keep pace with demand and technology advancements.”

These and other challenges can only be addressed in partnership with governments, De Juniac said.

He noted that governments need to recognise the enormous value that aviation – the business of freedom – provides for their economies and the world.

November international passenger demand rose 8.1%º year-on-year and was an increase from the 7.3% growth recorded in October.

Total capacity climbed 6.6% and load factor increased 1.1 percentage points to 78.2%.

African airlines experienced a 7.9% rise in demand, compared with November 2016.

Volumes in Africa in recent months have started to trend strongly upwards again in seasonally adjusted terms, in line with an improvement in business confidence in key economies including Kenya and Nigeria.

Indicators in South Africa are still consistent with falling economic activity, where capacity rose 3.7% and load factor climbed 2.7 percentage points to 68.3%.

Asia-Pacific airlines’ November traffic climbed 10.8%, compared with the same period last year, driven by strong regional economic growth and continuing expansion of options for travellers.

Capacity increased 8.7% and load factor rose 1.5 percentage points to 78.6%.

European carriers saw demand increase by 7.9% in November.

“Economic conditions in the region remain very favourable, with business confidence recently having risen to its strongest level in seven years,” said De Juniac.

Capacity climbed 6.2% and load factor rose 1.3 percentage points to 81.9%, which tied with Latin America as the highest load factor among the regions.

Middle East carriers had a 4.9% demand increase, which was the lowest among the regions.