The global demand for air travel recorded strong growth in January.

Figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed the total revenue passenger kilometers increased by eight per cent compared to the same month the year before. Meanwhile, capacity rose by a further 6.7 per cent, causing load factor to strengthen by 0.9 per cent. 

The results represented an improvement on the 6.8 per cent growth in demand achieved in December, while the full-year increase for 2013 was reported as being 5.2 per cent.

Tony Tyler, director general and chief executive officer at IATA, commented: "2014 is off to a strong start, with travel demand accelerating over the healthy results achieved in 2013, in line with stronger growth in advanced economies and emerging market regions."

Figures showed in Europe, carriers witnessed a growth in demand of 6.5 per cent in the first month of 2014, compared to figures achieved during January 2013. Capacity increased by 5.9 per cent, pushing load factor up 0.4 per cent to 77.2 per cent.