The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) reported in December 2023 that the upward trend in air travel continued, bringing the year’s total traffic back to pre-pandemic levels.
Compared to 2022, total traffic ( measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs ) increased by 36.9 % in 2023. The full-year traffic in 2023 reached 94.1 % of the pre-pandemic ( 2019 ) levels on a global scale. The total volume of traffic increased by 25.3 % in December 2023 over the same period in 2022, reaching 97.5 % of the December 2019 level. At 98.2 % of the levels seen in 2019, the third quarter’s customers showed signs of a significant improvement toward the end of 2019.
International traffic increased by 41.6 % in 2023 compared to 2022, and it surpassed records set in 2019. Foreign visitors increased by 24.2 % from December 2022 to 94.7 % of the levels seen in December 2019. The traffic volume was nevertheless 94.5 % higher in the fourth quarter than it was in 2019.
Domestic traffic increased by 30.4 % in 2023 compared to the previous year. Domestic traffic increased by 3.9 % in 2023 compared to the full-year 2019 level. In particular, domestic traffic increased by 27.0 % over the same time last year and by 2.3 % over December 2019. Also, traffic increased by 4.4 % in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2019.
The pandemic’s solid rise continued in 2023, with December customers only 2.5 % below 2019 levels, according to Willie Walsh, director general of the IATA. In 2024, carriers are expected to resume their regular rise designs thanks to the exceptional performance of quarter 4. The resurgence of traveling is good news because it boosts the world economy by making it easier for business, education, vacations, and other activities. Yet, governments must take a strategic approach to the situation if they want to fully benefit from the advantages of air travel in the post-pandemic period. In order to reach our net zero carbon emission target by 2050, this entails investing in infrastructure that is cost-effective to meet demand, encouraging the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel ( SAF ), and putting regulations in place that clearly show the difference between cost and benefit. Governments must remember how important aircraft is to boosting the happiness and wellbeing of people and businesses all over the world as they work to finish the recovery.
Global Customer Areas
The strongest year-over-year rate among the parts was maintained by Asia-Pacific Airlines, which reported a 126.1 % increase in total foreign visitors in 2023 compared to 2022. The load factor increased 9.0 percentage points to 83.1 % while capacity increased 101.8 %. Traffic increased by 56.9 % in December 2023 compared to 2022.
The full-year prospects for European ships increased by 22.0 % compared to 2022. The load factor increased 3.1 percentage points to 83.8 %, while capacity increased by 17.5 %. Demand increased 13.6 % in December compared to 2022. For the first time since the pandemic began, December visitors was higher than the accompanying quarter in 2019.
In comparison to 2022, Middle Eastern Airlines saw a 33.3 % increase in traffic in 2023. Capacity rose by 26.0 %, and load factor increased by 4.4 percentage points to 80.1 %. In comparison to the same quarter in 2022, December demand increased by 16.6 %.
In 2023, North American carriers reported an increase in annual traffic of 28.3 % over 2022. Capacity rose 22.4 %, and load factor increased by 3.9 percentage points to 84.6 %. Traffic increased 13.5 % in December 2023 compared to the same time last year.
Over the entire year 2022, Latin American Airlines posted a 28.6 % traffic increase in 2023. The highest load factor among the regions, 84.7 %, and annual capacity both increased by 25.4 %. Compared to December 2022, December demand increased by 26.5 %.
In 2023, American carriers saw an increase in annual traffic of 38.7 % over the previous month. The load factor increased 0.2 percentage points to 71.9 %, the lowest among regions, and capacity increased by 38.3 % for the full year 2023. American airlines ‘ traffic increased by 9.5 % in December 2023 over the same period in 2022.
The pandemic must not be pushed at the expense of our environment in order to join our universe even more highly than it was before. The company’s objective of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 is unwavering. Governments and energy suppliers must step up and take more action if we want to hasten the move. SAF usage significantly increased in 2023, but it still accounts for only 3 % of all world production of renewable energy. That is not acceptable. While other modes of transportation have options, airplane have no choice but to depend on liquid fuels. To boost SAF output as a proportion of total alternative fuel production as quickly as possible, an enormous collective effort is required, according to Walsh.
Global Air Travel Recovery Continues by: eTurboNews | ETN, according to IATA
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