IATA: Air travel demand continues to grow in March

Global air travel demand «returned to a strong growth trend in March 2023», according to figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

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See also: IATA: Air cargo declines moderates in March

IATA reports strong growth in air travel demand

Global traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), grew by 54.2% year-on-year. The figure represents an 88% recovery from the level in March 2019, the last year before the start of the pandemic.

Domestic traffic increased by 34.1% compared to March 2022 and achieved a 98.9% recovery compared to the same month in 2019.

International traffic grew 68.9% year-on-year. Increases were reported in all regions of the world. Passenger traffic on international flights stood at 81.6% of the total recorded in March 2019.

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«The first quarter of the year has ended on a good note for the air travel industry», said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General. «Domestic markets have been close to pre-pandemic levels for months now», he remarked with regard to national flights.

He also highlighted the recovery of activity in the international segment. «On the one hand, demand is up 3.5 percentage points from the previous month to 81.6% of pre-pandemic levels, thanks to the reopening of China, which boosted demand from Asia-Pacific airlines almost threefold», Walsh said. «On the other hand, capacity is improving, with international occupancy rates already reaching 81.3%», he added.

Domestic passenger air transport in March 2023

In terms of revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), China’s domestic market benefited from the lifting of restrictions and recorded a year-on-year increase of 195.2%. It also accounted for a 6.4% share of the world total.

Meanwhile, the United States domestic market grew by 4.4% compared to March 2022 and accounted for 19.3% of the global total.

India’s domestic market, one of the fastest growing ones, recorded a 20.3% year-on-year increase and maintained a 2% share of the total.

In Latin America, Brazil continued to lead the recovery: its domestic market again accounted for 1.5% of the global total in March.

International passenger air transport by region in March 2023

• Airlines from Asia-Pacific: year-on-year growth of 283.1%, the highest increase globally, driven by the lifting of mobility restrictions in the region. Capacity increased 161.5% and occupancy rate rose 26.8 percentage points to 84.5%.
• Airlines from Europe: year-on-year growth of 38.5%. Capacity increased 27% and occupancy factor rate rose 6.6 percentage points to 79.4%.
• Airlines from the Middle East: year-on-year growth of 43.1%. Capacity increased 30.5% and occupancy rate rose 7 percentage points to 79.4%.
• Airlines from the Middle East: year-on-year growth of 82.4%. Capacity increased 34% and occupancy rate rose 9.8 percentage points to 84.8%.
• Airlines from Latin America: year-on-year growth of 36.5%. Capacity increased 33.4% and occupancy rate rose 1.9 percentage points to 82.8%.
• Airlines from Africa: year-on-year growth of 71.7%. Capacity increased 56.2% and occupancy rate rose 6.5 percentage points to 72.2%.

See also: IATA: Passenger demand remains strong in January