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New passenger demand analysis reveals inter-regional hot spots of airline ...

Asia Pacific and the Middle East, followed by Europe, have become global hot spots for inter-regional long distance air travel, according to analysis by the market intelligence solution Amadeus Total Demand by airconomy. The review looks at trends in worldwide passenger demand in between regions over the last two years, comparing the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarters of both 2010 and 2011*.

Demand for air traffic between Asia Pacific and the Middle East grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 13% to almost 3 million passengers a month** in the first quarter of 2011. Dubai remains the most prominent origin and destination amongst the fastest growing city pairs, such as Dubai-Mumbai, Dubai-Karachi and Dubai-Delhi.

Traffic between the Middle East and Europe has surged 10.7% CAGR over the last two years, creating a market of approximately 2.4 million passengers a month. Dubai, London and Paris are the chief contributors to this trend, with London-Tel Aviv, Paris-Cairo, and Dubai-London as examples of rapidly growing city pairs. “The Middle East is frequently misconceived as just a point of transfer. Our data, however, shows strong evidence of the sharp increase as origin or final destination of this part of the world,” says David Doctor, Director, Amadeus Airline and Travel Agency Distribution.

European demand to and from Asia Pacific added a hefty 4.8% CAGR to a traffic flow which is already the strongest worldwide, given there are nearly 3.5 million passengers in this market. Of the top city-pairs contributing to this growth, London is the busiest travel point. London-Bangkok, London-Delhi and London-Hong Kong, are among the top city pairs causing this increase.

Air flows between regions in other markets, although robust in absolute passenger volume, were not able to exhibit growth figures in the same range as those in between Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Such is the case of passenger streams between North America and Europe which have stagnated since 2009 despite economic recovery. At 6.1% CAGR, demand between North America and Asia Pacific represents the most significant increase in intercontinental flows for the North American region.

BRIC economies, especially Brazil and Russia, are also among the most powerful engines driving up traffic flows worldwide. China and India are equally flourishing, albeit at a slower pace.

06PARIS6435 – Pública

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PARIS 006435

SIPDIS FROM USMISSION

UNESCO PARIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNESCO, IO/FO, WHA/BSC, L/UNA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016

TAGS: UNESCO, SCUL, BR

SUBJECT: (U) USUNESCO ? ALARMING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT UNESCO?S BRASILIA FIELD OFFICE

REF: PARIS 6225 (notal) Classified by DCM Andrew Koss, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 1. (U) This is an action request, please see para. 12.

2. (C) SUMMARY. In a private, off-the-record meeting with John Parsons (please protect), the Director of UNESCO?s Internal Oversight Service (IOS), Mission learned this week of a variety of disturbing new allegations, as well as unsettling new facts, that appear not only to widen the scope of irregularities surrounding UNESCO?s Brasilia Field Office (UBO) but also to heighten the stakes for UNESCO?s Director-General, Executive Board Members, and UNESCO?s reputation in how this problem is being addressed. We were informed that the disturbing new information raises a number of concerns, among them the following: the possibility that UNESCO could become a respondent in a Brazilian criminal prosecution; the specter of fraud or money laundering resulting from tens of thousands of alleged UBO travel missions that have been processed through the field office?s travel agency; Brazilian government pressure to blackball IOS Director Parsons and force his resignation; and a deepening appearance of a conflict of interest by UNESCO?s Deputy Director-General (DDG), Marcio Barbosa (a Brazilian national) vis–vis his oversight of the UBO issues.

3. (C) SUMMARY (continued). As an Executive Board member, the U.S. faces tough choices about how to respond appropriately and responsibly to the UBO controversy within the broader context of U.S.-Brazil bilateral relations.

4. (C) BACKGROUND. Among key issues for the upcoming session of UNESCO?s Executive Board (EB), is item 24 entitled ?Report by the Director-General on the Re- Orientation of the UNESCO Office in Brasilia.? An August 2006 UNESCO external auditor?s report suggests that a number of issues remain unresolved. Reftel reported Brazil?s Permanent Delegate?s recent meeting with Ambassador Oliver to discuss the UBO. The message delivered was that the Brazilian government views that the irregularities attributed to the UBO have now been sufficiently investigated, reported upon and brought under control. Brazil therefore seeks to remove this issue henceforth from further EB monitoring as a future EB agenda item. As reported, this demarche backfired, only strengthening Mission?s resolve to get an objective assessment of the current situation regarding that field office. Mission Legal Adviser?s subsequent telephone conversation with the external auditor?s office affirmed that there remain unanswered questions of potential concern.

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