Airlines globally will offer the lowest number of flights in the second half of this year since the same period in 2005 due to the downturn, according to new figures from OAG, but remain some 20 percent higher than 2001.

Airlines will offer 3.67% fewer flights and 2.76% fewer seats than they did a year ago. Europe has been worst hit, with departures down 7.3% compared to H208 with capacity down by over 6%.

OAG says flights to and from Asia Pacific region are down 3.1%, but the introduction of larger aircraft, in particular the A380 at Emirates, Qantas and Singapore Airlines, has limited the decline in seat capacity to under a percentage point.

South America is enjoying a significant increase in services, thanks to new flights from start-up carrier Azul and a more liberalised agreement between the US and Brazil.

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