Global passenger traffic demand rose 7.8% in June, with all regions reporting growth, IATA said in its monthly update. Regionally, Asia Pacific saw the highest growth with an 11.6% boost in RPK traffic. Africa was second in growth terms, on 9.2%, and Europe third with 8.8%. North America reported growth of 4.0%. June capacity rose by 6.5% overall, with Asia Pacific again topping the table on 9.4%. Europe was second with a 6.7% increase in ASK, Africa was a close third with 6.6% growth. North America increased ASK capacity by 4.1%. Passenger load factor rose in all regions bar the Middle East, which dropped 0.8 percentage points to 68.8%, and South America which was unchanged at 86.3%. Overall, load factor increased by 1 percentage point to 81.9%. <br/>
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A survey of airline passengers found that more than 20% had knowingly or unknowingly smuggled prohibited items past TSA checkpoints onto the aircraft, including at least 6% who boarded the plane while unintentionally carrying prohibited knives or other bladed objects. Less than 1% claimed that they discovered belatedly that they had mistakenly travelled with firearms, ammunition or explosives. The survey of more than 1,000 people also found that younger travellers were more likely to flout the rules. Of the respondents who admitted knowingly trying to fly with something banned by the TSA, 19.7% were millennials, compared with less than 15% who were members of Generation X. The most common items whisked past TSA agents on purpose were food and liquids. <br/>
A Sydney-born terrorism plot to place a bomb on a passenger plane was dangerously close to being carried out before it was unwittingly thwarted at an airline check-in counter. New details about the attempt to bring down the commercial flight out of Sydney provides a chilling insight into how close Islamic State-inspired terrorists allegedly came to executing the mass-casualty attack. Media reports say an improvised device reached Sydney Airport's international terminal after a passenger packed it inside a piece of luggage. The passenger was queried about the weight of the luggage at the check-in counter and learnt it was too heavy. The bag was never checked in or carried on the plane. <br/>