The recovery in air travel remains strong, based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s first half of the year passenger data released last night, August 4.
“Demand for air travel remains strong. After two years of lockdowns and border restrictions people are taking advantage of the freedom to travel wherever they can,” confirmed Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Asia-Pacific airlines posted a 492.0 percent rise in June traffic compared to June 2021.
Capacity rose 138.9 percent and the load factor was up 45.8 percentage points to 76.7 percent.
The region is now relatively open to foreign visitors and tourism which is helping foster the recovery.
Middle Eastern airlines’ traffic rose 246.5 percent in June compared to June 2021. June capacity rose 102.4 percent versus the year-ago period, and load factor climbed 32.4 percentage points to 78.0 percent
Total global traffic in June, 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was up 76.2 percent compared to June 2021, primarily propelled by the ongoing strong recovery in international traffic.
Globally, traffic is now at 70.8 percent of pre-crisis levels.
Domestic traffic for June 2022 was up 5.2 percent compared to the year-ago period.
Strong improvements in most markets, combined with the easing of some Omicron-related lockdown restrictions in the Chinese domestic market, contributed to the result.
Total June 2022 domestic traffic was at 81.4 percent of the June 2019 level.
International traffic rose 229.5 percent versus June 2021. The lifting of travel restrictions in most parts of Asia-Pacific is contributing to the recovery.
June 2022 international RPKs reached 65.0 percent of June 2019 levels.
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For their part, North American carriers experienced a 168.9 percent traffic rise in June versus the 2021 period.
Capacity rose 95.0 percent, and load factor climbed 24.1 percentage points to 87.7 percent, which was the highest among the regions.
Latin American airlines’ June traffic rose 136.6 percent compared to the same month in 2021.
June capacity rose 107.4 percent and load factor increased 10.3 percentage points to 83.3 percent.
After leading the regions in load factor for 20 consecutive months, Latin America slipped back to third place in June.
European carriers’ June traffic rose 234.4 percent versus June 2021. Capacity rose 134.5 percent, and load factor climbed 25.8 percentage points to 86.3 percent.
International traffic within Europe is above pre-pandemic levels in seasonally adjusted terms.
African airlines had a 103.6 percent rise in June RPKs versus a year ago. June 2022 capacity was up 61.9 percent and load factor climbed 15.2 percentage points to 74.2 percent, the lowest among regions.
International traffic between Africa and neighboring regions is close to pre-pandemic levels.
“With the Northern Hemisphere summer travel season now fully underway, predictions that the lifting of travel restrictions would unleash a torrent of pent-up travel demand are being borne out," according to Walsh.
"At the same time, meeting that demand has proved challenging and likely will continue to be so."
All the more reason to continue to show flexibility to the slot use rules, he stressed. "The European Commission’s intent to return to the longstanding 80-20 requirement is premature."
“Just look at the issues that airlines and their passengers at some hub airports are being confronted with. These airports are unable to support their declared capacity even with the current 64 percent slot threshold and have extended recent passenger caps until the end of October. Flexibility is still essential in support of a successful recovery."
“By capping passenger numbers, airports are preventing airlines from benefitting from the strong demand. Heathrow Airport has tried to blame airlines for the disruption."
"However, Service Level Performance data for the first six months of this year show that they have failed miserably to provide basic services and missed their Passenger Security service target by a massive 14.3 points," Walsh maintained.
"Data for June has not yet been published but is expected to show the lowest level of service by the airport since records began.”