Civil Aviation Authority: Air travel down 6% in August compared to last year

The Israel Civil Aviation Authority reported last week that air travel to and from Israel was down 6% in August 2006 compared to August 2005, down to one million passengers from 1.07 million
 
The Israel Civil Aviation Authority noted, however, that the number of flights in August were up by 5%. According to the Authority the increase was largely due to prediction made earlier this year by airlines that passenger traffic will increase in the summer months.
 
The increase did not occur because of the second Lebanon war.
 
In a lengthy report the Israel Civil Aviation Authority noted that foreign airlines did not cancel any of their flights, despite the drop in demand.
 
The report also noted that in January-August international passenger traffic at Ben Gurion Airport totaled 6.7 million passengers, 6% more than during the corresponding period of last year.
 
Cargo traffic at Maman's Air Cargo Terminal was 17% up in August than in the parallel month of last year.
 
Cargo traffic was up 2% in January-August 2006, compared with the parallel period of last year.
 
It was also revealed last week that in August 2006:
El Al's market share was down from 38.4% in August 2005 to 34.6% in August 2006; Market share of scheduled foreign airlines was up in August 2006 from 31.5% in August 2005 to 34%.