- Steady growth in flights and seat offer to and from North America CHICAGO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's airlines scheduled 2.47 million flights and offered a total of 295.1 million seats in September 2007 according to the latest statistics from OAG BACK Aviation Solutions, a division of flight information and data solutions company Official Airline Guide (OAG). This represents an increase of 4% and 6%, respectively, compared to the same month last year. The number of flights to and from North America grew by 5% year-on-year and capacity increased by 6%. As a result there were 82,700 international flights scheduled in September with a total seat capacity of 16.8 million. Transatlantic capacity rose by 9% in September 2007 with airlines offering a total of 7.4 million seats, 655,000 more than the same period last year. Low Cost Sector Budget airlines scheduled more than 58 million seats on over 392,000 flights worldwide in September 2007, compared with 47 million seats on over 326,000 flights in September 2006. This represents more than 11 million extra seats on over 66,000 more flights operated by the low cost sector - a year-on- year increase of 24% and 20% respectively. The US domestic market, still the busiest in this sector, has shown a 7% growth in both frequency and capacity (10,700 more low cost flights and 1.3 million more seats). Low cost flights now account for 16% of all flights and 20% of all seats worldwide, compared to 14% and 17% a year ago. Within North America, low cost flights account for 18% of the total flight activity within this market (164,000 flights), up from 17% last year. Low cost capacity represents a similarly modest rise of 1% to 27% of the total number of seats available in this region (22 million seats). Within Europe, low cost flights account for 22% of the total flight activity within this region for September 2007, up from 18% year on year. Low cost capacity represents 30% of the total seats available within the market, a jump of 6% compared with September 2006. Low cost carriers scheduled 133,000 flights and 21.8 million seats within Europe in September 2007. Asia continues its upward trend, with 12,500 more flights (up 26%) year on year, with 2.2 million more seats (up 32%). India is making a significant contribution to this growth. The latest figures for September 2007 reveal there is a 44% growth in the number of domestic low cost flights (5,700 more flights) and 75% growth in capacity of over 1.1 million seats. Notes to Editors Graphs and charts are available. Please contact Dan Dulik at or Alison Pickering at About OAG BACK Aviation Solutions OAG BACK Aviation Solutions is a division of OAG (Official Airline Guide), a global flight information and data solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business travel markets. OAG BACK Aviation Solutions is the world leader in industry intelligence, combining OAG's global data services and analytical solutions with BACK's worldwide aircraft fleet, financial and traffic data and its renowned strategic consulting practice. It provides information, analysis tools and services for all four quadrants of commercial aviation: manufacturing capacity; supply; demand and performance. OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com). DATASOURCE: OAG BACK Aviation Solutions CONTACT: Kathy Marr of OAG BACK Aviation Solutions, +1-630-515-3240, Web site: http://www.cbizmedia.com/

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