Global air travel demand in July rose 6.8 percent year on year, slowing from 7.7 percent growth recorded in June, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday. "As the first full month in the summer peak travel season, July is a bellwether month, and demand continues to be very strong," IATA said in its monthly traffic update. It said all regions reported solid or better growth in passenger volumes over the past year. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, rose 6.1 percent and load factor rose by 0.6 percentage points to a July record of 84.7 percent. "The stimulus effect of lower fares is softening in the face of rising cost inputs. This suggests a moderating in the supportive demand backdrop," IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac said. Traffic for Europe’s airlines grew by 7.5 per cent year-on-year, outpacing the 6.6 per cent rise in capacity. Middle East carriers had a 4.5 percent increase in demand for July This week, IATA reported that global air freight in July rose 11.4 percent marking the third double-digit monthly increase in a row.