World airlines say worst of SARS probably over

International airlines declared on Wednesday that the worst was most likely over in their SARS-induced business slump as they announced a joint marketing campaign to kick-start the Asian tourism industry.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) held a press conference here with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to announce the "unprecedented" marketing campaign aimed at restoring confidence in Asia as a tourist destination.

Passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific plunged nearly 45 per cent in April from a year ago due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic but the slowdown may have hit its low, according to IATA figures.

"I think as a general statement, we have probably reached the bottom of the falloff (for airlines)," IATA's regional vice president, Andrew Drysdale, told AFP.