The International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) has reported global traffic in August saw year-on-year increases of 6.4 per cent for passengers and 19.6 per cent for cargo. Middle East carriers recorded demand that was 12.3 per cent ahead of August 2009 levels. This is down from the 16.5 per cent recorded for July. The shifting of Ramadan into August is partially responsible for the slowdown. It was the only region in which capacity expansion of 13 per cent outstripped demand.