The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a robust rebound in global air travel, with passenger traffic approaching pre-Covid levels.
In July, worldwide air traffic surged by 26.2% compared to the same month in the previous year, as measured by revenue passenger kilometres (the product of the number of passengers and the distance travelled). This strong recovery has brought global air travel to approximately 95.6% of pre-pandemic levels, as stated by the IATA.
Notably, domestic air travel in July demonstrated remarkable growth, with a 21.5% increase compared to July 2022, surpassing July 2019 figures by 8.3%. This surge can be attributed to the high demand in the Chinese domestic market.
The global air travel industry achieved an impressive passenger load factor of 85.7% in July, marking the highest-ever recorded monthly figure for international flights.
Willie Walsh, Director General of the IATA, commented on these developments: “Planes were full during July as people continue to travel in ever greater numbers. Importantly, forward ticket sales indicate that travellers’ confidence remains high. And there is every reason to be optimistic about the continuing recovery.”
The Asia-Pacific region led the way in July 2023, with a remarkable 105.8% increase in air traffic compared to the same period in 2022, solidifying its position as the top-performing region. Following closely behind were African, Latin American, Middle Eastern, North American, and European airlines, all showing positive trends in their respective markets, as indicated in the report.
