Kuala Lumpur (dpa) - The global airline industry is believed to be poised for a recovery, with figures for the month of September indicating a slow return in passenger and air cargo confidence, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) said Monday.

For the first time in more than 12 months, member airlines carried a total of 10.8 million international passengers in September, matching the numbers carried in the same month last year.

Asia-Pacific airlines also recorded encouraging results in air cargo as the September traffic, while still 6.5 per cent below the levels of a year ago, was the smallest shortfall so far for 2009.

"The September traffic figures offer some encouragement amidst signs of a continuing pickup in consumer confidence and economic activity, led by the Asia Pacific region," said Andrew Herdman, the association's director-general.

However, he urged airlines to continue efforts to stimulate travel as many airlines continued to struggle with numerous challenges to the industry.

"For the first nine months of the year, our overall international passenger numbers were 9 per cent down compared to last year, whilst international air cargo traffic registered an 18 per cent decline," said Herdman.

He said rising oil prices continued to act as a "brake" on global economic recovery, making it harder for airlines to restore profitability.

"Overall, as things stand now, the recovery still looks quite fragile."

AAPA's 17-member airlines recorded 141.5 million passengers last year, a 1.8-per-cent drop from the year before, and a 6.1-per-cent dip in air cargo. (dpa)