ERA MEMBERS REPORT ENCOURAGING 2007 GROWTH

18/10/2007

As the members of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) gather at the association’s annual General Assembly in Athens, ERA’s reporting member airlines continue to record very healthy growth for the first six months of 2007.

Scheduled passenger traffic was up an encouraging 7.7% compared to the first half of 2006 with scheduled passenger kilometers rising by 9.7% on the same period last year.

Capacity levels have also been growing on ERA member airlines, with seat numbers up 5.3% and available seat kilometers (ASKs) up 7.8% in the first six months of this year when compared to the same period in 2006.

Average scheduled passenger load factors (PLFs) for the first half of 2007 were 63.3%. The PLF figure recorded for June 2007 was 68.1%, the highest June on ERA record.

The first-half results for 2007 also reveal that the average sector distance for an ERA member airline has significantly increased when compared to the same period in 2006, from 547 kilometres to 566 kilometres. The increase in average sector distance and in average aircraft seating capacity (to 72 seats) could be a reflection of the increased number of turbofan aircraft in the ERA fleet. Turbofan aircraft now represent 61% of the total fleet. The average sector time stands at 73 minutes.

Mike Ambrose, director general of ERA, says: “These new figures illustrate perfectly that regional aviation remains a vital economic and social force in Europe. I call on Europe’s regulators and politicians to ensure that the industry is encouraged to continue to thrive in the years ahead.”


ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Founded in 1980, ERA is the recognised representative body for intra-European air transport. It currently represents 60 airlines and over 140 Associate and Affiliate members, including airframe and engine manufacturers, airports, suppliers and service providers from all over Europe. For further information, please contact: Lesley Shepherd, Manager, Corporate Communications | Tel: +44 (0)1276 485578 | Fax: +44 (0)1276 857038 | Mobile: +44 (0)7713 984793 |