Global air passenger traffic continues to recover as the effect of the Ukraine conflict remains limited and Omicron-related impact on travel is confined largely to Asian domestic markets, according to the latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) data.

Asia-Pacific accounts for 27.6 percent of the world's total passenger traffic market in terms of revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), second only to North America, with 32.7 percent.

Europe is number 3, with 24.9 percent, followed by the Middle East and Latin America, both with 6.5 percent and Africa, 1.9 percent.

Total traffic this March (measured in RPKs), soared 76.0 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

Although this was lower than the 115.9 percent rise in February year-over-year demand, volumes in March were the closest to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, at 41 percent below.

In addition, March 2022 domestic traffic increased 11.7 percent vetsus the year-ago period, far below the 59.4 percent year-over-year improvement recorded in February.

This was a result of the Omicron-related lockdowns in China which pulled down March domestic RPKs by 23.2 percent.

“With barriers to travel coming down in most places, we are seeing the long-expected surge in pent-up demand finally being realized," remarked IATA Director general William M. Walsh.

"Unfortunately, we are also seeing long delays at many airports with insufficient resources to handle the growing numbers. This must be addressed urgently to avoid frustrating consumer enthusiasm for air travel,” he warned.

Overall, Asia-Pacific airlines registered a 197.1 percent rise in March traffic compared to March 2021, up over the 146.5 percent gain registered in February 2022 versus February 2021.

While China and Japan remain restrictive to foreign visitors, other countries are becoming more relaxed, including South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand.

Capacity rose 70.7 percent and the load factor was up 24.1 percentage points to 56.6 percent, the lowest among regions.

Middle Eastern airlines’ traffic rose 245.8 percent in March compared to March 2021, an improvement compared to the 218.2 percent increase in February 2022, versus the same month in 2021.

March capacity rose 96.6 percent versus the year-ago period, and load factor climbed 31.1 percentage points to 72.1 percent.

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North American carriers experienced a 227.8 percent traffic rise in March versus the 2021 period, slightly down on the 237.3 percent rise in February 2022 over February 2021.

Capacity rose 91.9 percent and load factor climbed 31.2 percentage points to 75.4 percent.

Latin American airlines’ March traffic rose 239.9 percent compared to the same month in 2021, little changed from the 241.9 percent increase in February 2022 compared to February 2021.

The region benefitted from the end of bankruptcy procedures for some of the main carriers based there.

March capacity rose 173.2 percent and load factor increased 15.8 percentage points to 80.3 percent, which was the highest load factor among the regions for the 18th consecutive month.

European carriers continued to lead the recovery, with March traffic rising 425.4 percent versus March 2021, improved over the 384.6 percent increase in February 2022 compared to the same month in 2021.

The impact of the war in Ukraine has been relatively limited outside of traffic to/from Russia and countries neighboring the conflict. Capacity rose 224.5 percent, and load factor climbed 27.8 percentage points to 72.7 percent

African airlines had a 91.8 percent rise in March RPKs versus a year ago, improved compared to the 70.8 percent year-over-year increase recorded in February 2022 compared to the same month in 2021.

Air travel demand is challenged by low vaccination rates on the continent as well as impacts from rising inflation.

March 2022 capacity was up 49.9% and load factor climbed 14.1 percentage points to 64.5%.

In the domestic front, China’s domestic traffic was down 59.1 percent in March, compared to March 2021, which was a large reversal compared to the 32.8 percent year-over-year growth recorded in February.

This was due to the drastic lockdowns and travel restrictions following the spread of Omicron in the country.

On the othet hand, India’s domestic RPKs rose 32.3 percent year-on-year in March, strongly reversing the 2.4 percent decline in February versus the prior year.

“The ongoing recovery in air travel is excellent news for the global economy, for friends and families whose forced separations are being ended, and for the millions of people who depend on air transport for their livelihoods," concluded IATA Director General Walsh.