Air Travel Increased By 68% In August – IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that air traffic increased 67.7 per cent in August 2022, when compared to what was recorded in the same month in 2021.

IATA also stated in its air traffic report that the movement of cargo fell by 8.3 per cent during the period under review.

It stated that between August 2021 to August 2022, African airlines sustained a 69.5 per cent rise in traffic as measured by Revenue Passenger Kilometres.

The continent also saw its load factor jump by 10.8 percentage points to 75.9 per cent.

This, it said, was in comparison with the 67.7 per cent rise in global traffic, which now stood at 73.7 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

In previous reports, the association said Africa had a 1.9 per cent share of the world airline passenger market. It stated that domestic traffic for August 2022 was up by 26.5 per cent compared to the same a year ago.

“Total August 2022 domestic traffic was at 85.4 per cent of the August 2019 level,” IATA stated.

The association said international traffic rose 115.6 per cent when compared to what was recorded in August 2021, with airlines in Asia delivering the strongest year-on-year growth rates.

“August 2022 international RPKs reached 67.4 per cent of August 2019 levels,” IATA stated.

Speaking about the report in a statement, the, Director-General, IATA, Willie Walsh, explained that the peak of travel season ended on a good note.

He said, “The Northern Hemisphere peak summer travel season finished on a high note. Considering the prevailing economic uncertainties, travel demand is progressing well.

“And the removal or easing of travel restrictions at some key Asian destinations, including Japan, will certainly accelerate the recovery in Asia. The mainland of China is the last major market retaining severe COVID-19 entry restrictions.”