Asia got used to empty airports

The Sars virus has had more effect on the global airline industry than the war with Iraq, according to a report from the flight schedule provider OAG.

According to the group's latest report, the number of scheduled flights worldwide fell by 3% - equivalent to 2.5m seats - in mid-June compared to a year ago.

The OAG blamed the combined effect of the Sars virus and a slowing world economy.

Worst hit were China and the Asia Pacific region, with flights to China down by 45%.

"The impact of Sars on global flight schedules was not unexpected, but the scale of the fall is quite staggering," said Lynne Fraser, marketing director at OAG.

"The statistics show that Sars has had a far greater effect on global air travel than the war itself."

Asian woes

The report is intended to give a snapshot of how the global air travel industry is faring.

According to the latest findings, worldwide flight numbers in June were 1% below what they were before the war in Iraq broke out.

FLIGHT NUMBERS: JUNE 02 vs JUNE 03 To/from China: -45% Within China: -16% Between Hong Kong and US/Canada: -69% Between Hong Kong and Europe: -36% To/from Middle East: -1% To/from UK:4% To/from Europe:2%

But due to Sars, the number of flights to and from the Asia Pacific region had dropped by 5% since March and flights within the region had dropped by 10%.

A separate report from Hong Kong's Airport Authority said passenger traffic in May at Hong Kong International airport had slumped by almost 80% from the year before.

Meanwhile the airline Cathay Pacific said the Sars virus had cut its May passenger numbers by almost 75%, with the number of flights down by 45%.

"We are still a very long way from our break-even point," said Cathay Pacific in a statement.

The Airport Authority predicted passenger numbers would pick up gradually in June, thanks to help from government tourist promotion schemes and the decline in the Sars virus.

Cheap is cheerful

One bright spot for the airline industry was the low-cost sector.

OAG's data showed European flights had been buoyed by the bargain deals, with cheap flights to and from the UK up by 36%.

Low cost flights within Europe rose by 77%.

"The continued strength of the low-cost sector and [Asia's] previous growth are both causes for optimism."