Passengers traveling on premiumtickets fell 13 percent in December 2008 and 2.8 percent for theyear, according to the International Air Transport Assn.

The December drop came after an 11.5 percent decline in November2008 and is caused by the abrupt decline in business activity andinternational trade across the world.
Asia showed the biggest declines in premium travel, primarily dueto the importance of international trade and finance in drivingbusiness travel.
Within the Far East, premium travel was down 25.1 percent inDecember, fell 19.7 percent across the Pacific and was down 17.3percent on Europe-Far East routes. Only African markets show anysigns of growth.
Within North America, premium traffic dipped 7.7 percent inDecember 2008.
Economy travel in December declined 5.3 percent, less than the 6percent decline in November, possibly because leisure trips mayhave been booked before the full extent of the recession wasapparent. The group expects even weaker numbers in the first fewmonths of 2009.