![photo - Seth Jaworski](http://thewofa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/777-300ER_9V-SWL_SYDNEY_3JULY2010_SETH-JAWORSKI-300x181.jpg)
A new report from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has shown that international passenger traffic continued to grow strongly during May, although seat utilisation remained static.
Passenger traffic increased by 6.9 per cent compared to May 2009 with 1.887 million passengers passing through Australia’s international airports. Available seats increased by 6.7 per cent, while seat utilisation remained static at 66.7 per cent.
Once again, Qantas had the largest share of international traffic with 20.2 per cent of the market, followed by Singapore Airlines with nine per cent, Emirates with 8.7 per cent, Jetstar with 8.4 per cent and Air New Zealand with 8.0 per cent. Compared to May 2009, Qantas’s share decreased by 2.3 percentage points, Singapore Airlines’ share increased by 0.1 percentage point, Emirates’ share increased by 0.6 percentage points, Jetstar’s share decreased by 0.6 percentage points and Air New Zealand’s share decreased by 0.7 percentage points.
Low cost carriers also continued to grow their market share, with AirAsia X, Indonesia AirAsia, Jetstar, Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue and Tiger Airways collectively carrying 18.6 per cent of scheduled traffic during the month, an increase of 1.1 percentage points.