3.3 billion air travellers expected by 2014: IATA

Global airline travel will likely jump to 3.3 billion passengers by 2014 as Asia's fast economic growth drives the industry's expansion, the International Air Transport Association said Monday.

Asia will likely account for 45 per cent of the 800 million increase in air travellers between 2009 and 2014, IATA chief executive Giovanni Bisignani said at a news conference.

China will be the fastest growing market for international passengers, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Malaysia, Bisignani said.

"Look at one number: GDP," he said. "When you see Singapore ... and China have double digit growth and in Europe we're struggling between one and two per cent, that's how the industry is going."

The association expects gross domestic product in the Asia Pacific area to grow 6.6 per cent this year, Europe to expand one per cent and the U.S. to grow 1.5 per cent.

Asia overtook North America as the largest aviation market in 2009 and will account for 30 per cent of air traffic by 2014, while North America will slip to 23 per cent.

Bisignani reiterated that the global airline industry will likely earn $9.1 billion US this year, down from $15.1 billion last year as higher fuel costs eat into profits.

Fuel oil accounts for about 27 per cent of an airline's costs and the industry will likely spend $156 billion on fuel this year, up from $139 billion last year, he said.

The Geneva-based IATA expects Brent crude to average $84 a barrel this year, and every $1 above that will increase the industry's costs by $1.6 billion.

"Higher oil prices could spoil our party," Bisignani said.