International air traffic increased steadily in the first seven months of the year, according to results released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday.

The results show that passenger traffic grew by 6.4 percent compared with the same period last year, Meanwhile, cargo traffic grew by 5.3 percent. The average load factor for the period was 76 percent.

For the month of July, 80.8 percent of seats were filled worldwide with North American carriers achieving 85.9 percent. "The result is a strong revenue environment that is helping to combat the increasing price of fuel," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general and CEO of the Geneva-based IATA.

"But recent shocks in the UK and the Middle East remind us that there is no room for complacency on efficiency," he added.

The conflict in the Middle East led to a slowdown in the region's growth rate. "For the first time in two years, Middle Eastern carriers were not the leaders in cargo or passenger growth," said Bisignani.

Middle Eastern carriers posted July growth of 12.9 percent for passenger and 15.2 percent for cargo. This was behind African carrier growth of 13.1 percent for passenger and 20.6 percent for cargo.

But Bisignani said the Middle East slowdown in July was isolated and it would not impact the region's dominant carriers. Middle Eastern air traffic accounts for 7.7 percent of the global traffic.

"While we expect to see another isolated dip in August due to the UK terror alert, overall, improved efficiency and high load factors will help to mitigate the impact of the high oil prices and bodes well for the bottom line," added Bisignani.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2006)