GENEVA — The latest figures from IATA show that global passenger traffic had the strongest demand growth in nine months in November 2016. Total revenue passenger kilometers rose 7.6% compared to November 2015. Capacity increased by 6.5%, and load factor rose 0.8 percentage points to 78.9%.

“Stronger demand for air travel reflects – and is supporting – a pick-up in the global economic cycle,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “As the stimulus effect of lower oil prices recedes in the rear view mirror, the strength of the economic cycle will play a key role in the pace of demand growth in 2017.”

November international passenger demand rose 8% compared to the year earlier, with airlines in all regions showing growth. Total capacity climbed 6.8%, and load factor edged up 0.9 percentage points to 77.1%.

North American airlines’ traffic climbed 1.5% in November. Traffic across the Pacific is growing rapidly but North Atlantic demand is moderating, said IATA. Capacity rose 1.2% and load factors were up 0.2 percentage points to 78.7%.