The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced remarkable growth in air travel demand, with February 2023 traffic results revealing a steady recovery in the industry. Here are the latest figures and discuss the driving forces behind this rebound in air travel.
Skyrocketing Demand for Air Travel
February 2023’s total traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), rose by an astounding 55.5% compared to February 2022. This puts global traffic at 84.9% of February 2019 levels. Domestic traffic in February experienced a 25.2% increase compared to the previous year, reaching 97.2% of February 2019 levels. International traffic, on the other hand, saw an incredible 89.7% jump versus February 2022, with all markets experiencing strong growth, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. International RPKs reached 77.5% of February 2019 levels.
IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh, commented on the traffic results, stating, “Despite the uncertain economic signals, demand for air travel continues to be strong across the globe and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The industry is now just about 15% below 2019 levels of demand, and that gap is narrowing each month.”
Travelers Take to the Skies with Confidence
The Easter and Passover holidays are expected to bring a surge of travelers taking to the skies. Walsh reassures travelers that airlines have been rebuilding their resiliency after the pandemic, adding that other participants in the air travel value chain, including airports, air navigation service providers, and airport security staff, must share the same commitment to ensuring a smooth holiday travel experience.
Regional Traffic Highlights
Several regions experienced notable traffic growth in February 2023 compared to February 2022:
- Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 378.7% increase in traffic.
- European carriers reported a 47.9% traffic rise.
- Middle Eastern airlines witnessed a 75.0% traffic increase.
- North American carriers’ traffic climbed 67.4%.
- Latin American airlines experienced a 44.1% traffic increase.
- African airlines’ traffic rose 90.7%.
Air Cargo Demand: Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels
IATA’s February 2023 data for global air cargo markets revealed that demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), fell by 7.5% compared to February 2022. However, February demand for air cargo was 2.9% higher than pre-pandemic levels (February 2019)—the first time in eight months that demand surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Walsh shared his thoughts on the air cargo market, saying, “The story of air cargo in February is one of slowing declines. Year-on-year demand fell by 7.5%. That’s half the rate of decline experienced in January. This shifting of gears was sufficient to boost the overall industry into positive territory (+2.9%) compared to pre-pandemic levels.”
The latest IATA traffic results reveal a strong recovery in the air travel industry, with both passenger and cargo demand continuing to grow. While uncertainties remain, the data provides an optimistic outlook for airlines and travelers alike. With demand steadily approaching pre-pandemic levels, the future of air travel appears brighter than ever.
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