European air traffic grew by 0.1% in October, the smallest possible increase, according to the Association of European Airlines.

The association also warned that the growth was illusory as it included an element of recovery of traffic lost to industrial action in October 2007 and was closer in real terms to a 1.5% decrease.

The weakest markets were the two largest: cross-border Europe, at minus 2.7%, and the North Atlantic at minus 0.7%, while the major traffic flows between Europe and the Far East showed a small increase of 1%, although this too would have been negative were it not for the depressed 2007 baseline.

The severe slowdown in the air cargo market continued, with a 6% drop in volumes following the 7.3% reduction in September.