According to the most recent information provided by IATA (International Air Transport Association), November saw a recovery in global air passenger traffic, albeit slightly slower than October.
In November, domestic traffic increased by only a few per cent while international traffic led to a surge in airline passengers. Revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), a measure of traffic, increased by 41.3% year-over-year in November 2022 and reached roughly 75.3% of November 2019 levels.
Available seat kilometres (ASKs), a measure of total global capacity, rose by 23.8% year-over-year in November 2022, reaching 75.4% of pre-Covid levels. However, the load factor was 80.8%, a 10% increase from November 2021.
When compared to November 2021, international traffic recorded a 45.3% rise, which is four percentage points higher than the global average. But, it stayed 17.1% below the November 2019 levels, according to IATA’s data for European airlines.
Europe’s carriers’ international capacity increased by 25.1% year-over-year with load factor increasing by more than 11% to 83.6%, the highest recorded by any global region.
Willie Walsh, director general of the IATA, stated, “Traffic results in November reinforce that consumers are thoroughly enjoying the freedom to travel. Unfortunately, the responses to China’s reopening of international travel in January remind us that many governments are still playing science politics regarding Covid-19 and travel,”
IATA and other airline organizations have also criticized a recommendation that EU member states agreed upon last week. It requires passengers coming from China to possess a negative Covid-19 test.