The International Air Transport Association (IATA) traffic results for April show a rebound in international markets with 16.5 percent growth compared to April 2010. Since the European airspace was shut down in April 2010, due to the volcanic ash crisis, comparison figures have been exaggerated, IATA stated when releasing the results June 2 at Singapore.

International markets in April had grown to reach a level of seven percent higher than the pre-recession peak of early 2008, according to IATA.

"Demand improved significantly in April," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. "Eliminating all distortions, we are growing three-four [percent]. International traffic is now seven [percent] above the early 2007 pre-recession levels, load factors are hovering around 77 percent and business confidence is high," he said.

African, Asia-Pacific, North American, European, Latin American and Middle Eastern carriers all reported at least a one percent increase in international passenger markets.

Traffic report highlights according to IATA include:

International: A 16.5 percent increase in passenger demand was met by a 16.8% increase in capacity. Passenger load factors fell slightly from 76.8% in April 2010 to 76.7% in April this year. International freight grew by 5.4% against a capacity increase of 12.3%, pushing the freight load factor down from 55.3% in April 2010 to 51.9% in April 2011.

Domestic: Domestic markets showed 4.7% growth over the previous year, outpacing a capacity increase of 3.1% pushing the passenger load factor to 78.8%. Domestic freight markets showed a 9.3% fall in freight traffic against a capacity decrease of 1.0% resulting in an average load factor for the month of 26.8 percent.

System-wide: System-wide, passenger traffic grew by 11.9%, slightly ahead of an 11.5% capacity expansion pushing the system-wide load factor to 77.4 percent. Freight markets grew by 3.3%, against a capacity increase of 9.2%, dropping the system-wide freight load factor to 46.5% (compared to 49.1 % for the same month last year).