OT but interesting read and from site I didn't know but has some good info.

http://www.anna.aero/2009/08/07/uk-i...97-in-2009-h1/

International air travel to and from the United Kingdom has been hit hard in the first half of 2009 by the current economic climate. Traffic is down almost 10% with many major markets suffering particularly badly. Examining what anna.aero has identified as some of the UK�s most mature markets reveals that the only bright spot was April which benefited from Easter�s return to its traditional home.

The Japanese market has been a particular problem and has been the worst performer among this basket of routes since last October.

Among the eight country markets classified by anna.aero as �emerging�, four are still reporting growth in both May and June. India, Romania, Turkey and UAE markets are still experiencing increases in demand.

The spectacular growth of the Polish market in 2007 and the first three-quarters of 2008 is now being followed by a significant drop, averaging almost 20% during the last eight months.

If total passenger numbers are compared for the first half of 2009 and 2008 it transpires that Spain and the USA have seen the biggest fall in passenger numbers in volume terms with both markets losing over one million passengers.

In volume terms the fastest growing markets are Turkey, UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) and Egypt. Just outside the top six are Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Gibraltar, Argentina, Lebanon and the Dominican Republic. In total around 40 country markets reported growth in the first six months of 2009 including Albania, Croatia, Finland, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Singapore and Ukraine.

Apart from Poland�s dramatic decline, the Czech Republic market is down 18.3% and Hungary is down 19.2%. Russian traffic is down 21.3%.

I wonder if this figure includes transit passengers who are not stopping in the UK.

I believe that the Japanese have really gone OTT about swine flu and are banning overseas travel. If you manage to get approval to travel outside Japan then on your return you are told to stay at home for at least 1 week.

For a nation whose culuture is all about team work this is absolute anathema.

PS look at JAL's results. Major losses.

Aaaa.. so this is why my LO flight to LHR will be so empty. Couple of minutes ago the check-in agent said I will be 'almost' alone in Business and Economy will be about 60% full, when I asked how full the flight will be.

Apparently BA is fuller on this route...

JPLondon: I wouldn't say that this is OT at all.
TPJ: your experience mirrors Mrs C and my flights to and from KRK in May.

Interesting about Turkey being the fastest growing market! All down to a combination of TK becoming a *A member and the cheap F redemptions on their leased 77Ws.

Okay - perhaps being a shorthaul non-Euro destination may have had something to do with it too!