Airlines carried 4.4 billion passengers on scheduled service
in 2018, a jump of 6.9% over 2017, according to IATA data.
Leading the growth was the low-cost segment, which expanded
at a rate that was nearly twice as fast as the overall industry. Low-cost
carriers grew capacity, measured by available seat miles, by 13.4% last year.
The sector accounted for 29% of global seats in 2018, up from 16% in 2004,
according to IATA.
In terms of world regions, the Asia-Pacific saw the fastest
growth in airline passengers during 2018, with a jump 9.2% compared to 2017.
Some 1.6 billion passengers took to the air in the Asia-Pacific last year,
representing 37.1% of global market share, which is more than any other region.
In North America, airlines carried 989 million passengers,
up 4.8% from 2017.
With the increase in traffic, IATA director general
Alexandre de Juniac said the industry is committed to reducing emissions.
"The freedom to fly is more accessible than ever. And
our world is a more prosperous place as a result," de Juniac said. "As
with any human activity this comes with an environmental cost that airlines are
committed to reducing. We understand that sustainability is essential to our
license to spread aviation's benefits."
IATA said that 22,000 city pairs were connected by direct
flights last year, up 1,300 city pairs from 2017.