The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently unveiled its comprehensive analysis of the air passenger market for November 2023, showcasing a robust recovery globally.
However, the spotlight is on Africa, which recorded 96.4% air passenger recovery pre-pandemic levels, marking a significant milestone in the region’s aviation resurgence.
According to IATA global air travel demand in November 2023 surged to an impressive 99.1% of 2019 levels, indicating a substantial recovery for the industry.
Total traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), witnessed a notable 29.7% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
The Asia-Pacific region led the international surge with a remarkable year-over-year increase of 63.8%, showcasing the region’s strong recovery.
What IATA said
- “Asia Pacific airlines saw a modest improvement when recovering their pre-pandemic levels of traffic (C. International RPKs( Revenue Passenger Kilometers or revenue passenger miles (RPM) measures the air traffic for Airbus and aircraft) reached 83.0% of November 2019 ).
- In Africa, passenger traffic reached 96.4% of November 2019 levels. In seasonally adjusted terms, RPKs grew in line with the steady trend we have observed over the year.”
Globally total traffic for November 2023, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), experienced a notable 29.7% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
International traffic rose by 26.4%, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the way with an impressive year-over-year increase of 63.8%.
Meanwhile, domestic traffic saw a remarkable 34.8% rise, fueled by robust growth in China and the United States.
Despite these positive trends, challenges persist, with international travel still lagging 5.5% behind pre-pandemic levels.
While economic headwinds are acknowledged, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, remains optimistic about the industry’s recovery trajectory.
Regional Performances
- Asia-Pacific: Led the global surge with an 80.1% increase in RPKs and a notable PLF gain of 3.8%.
- Europe: Maintained a steady pace with a 13.6% rise in RPKs, boasting a stable PLF at 83.7%.
- Middle East: Saw an 18.7% surge in RPKs, settling at a PLF of 77.7%.
- North America: Witnessed a 10.2% rise in RPKs, with a slight PLF decrease of 0.8%.
- Latin America: Recorded a 12.0% increase in RPKs, with a positive PLF growth of 2.2% at 84.4%.
- Africa: Achieved a 22.1% rise in November RPKs, despite facing challenges with a decreased load factor to 69.7%.
