IATA: Strong air travel growth continues

Saturday, 06 Jul, 2023 0

Global air travel continued its climb back to a full recovery, according to the International Air Transport Association’s May 2023 traffic data report.

Total passenger traffic in May 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 39.1% compared to May 2022.

Globally, traffic is now at 96.1% of May 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels.

Domestic passenger traffic was up 36.4% compared to a year-ago and is now 5% above pre-pandemic.

IATA says International traffic is back to 90.8% of pre-pandemic levels.

Notably, the North America and Middle East regions have surpassed pre-Covid passenger traffic numbers.

The total industry load factor rose to 81.8%.

“Heading into the busy Northern summer travel season, international demand reached 90.8% of pre-pandemic levels,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

North American carriers’ have the highest average load factor at over 85%.

Europe is just marginally lower, while Asia Pacific is at 80%.

APAC airlines had a 156.7% increase in May 2023 traffic compared to a year earlier.

“The strong demand for travel is one element supporting a return to profitability by airlines,” Walsh added.

IATA expects airlines globally to post a $9.8 billion net profit in 2023.

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

In 2019, Buffalo Tours and Olympus Tours joined the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) family and formed Discova. With the...

Jet2.com is the UK’s third largest airline, flying from ten UK airports to more than 60 destinations across Europe and beyond....

In 2024, The Red Sea will be ready to welcome 300,000 guests in line with the completion of 16 hotels...

Philippine Airlines (PR), also known as PAL, is the Filipino flag carrier. The company started their operations in February 1941,...

Travel specialists founded the company in 1999 as AC Tours. Since then we have grown and expanded to incorporate four...

Holiday Extras is the UK market leader in airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers...

We work with reliable data providers with global coverage, that guarantee data representativeness as well as compliance with International Personal...

Celebrating its 30-year anniversary in 2022, Regent Seven Seas Cruises® offers guests An Unrivaled Experience® with every luxury included. Carrying...

Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ Travel Outlook is an innovative, custom off-site central reservations office (CRO) service that...

This is Jersey. An island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle...

The State of Michigan is blessed with the riches of unspoiled nature: the nation’s longest freshwater coastline, lakes that feel like...

The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is the only organization that promotes metro Detroit regionally, nationally and...

Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We...

From the Tel Aviv beach scene to the shores of the Dead Sea, Israel layers diverse cultures, outdoor adventures, and...

Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s...