Travel rebound is in the air as the latest IATA report showed overall global air traffic in 2022 was at 68.5 per cent of 2019 levels, which the association said demonstrated strong continued momentum after border restrictions lifted during the year.
IATA’s Global Passenger Survey highlighted that post-pandemic, travellers want improved convenience throughout their trip.
In 2022, global air passenger traffic recovered as travel barriers tumbled and people responded with a strong desire to travel.
Globally, domestic operations ramped up faster than international as domestic travel policies offered more certainty to passengers.
The Australian market experienced a quick rebound with revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) recovering to 81.2 per cent of 2019 levels.
Despite setbacks from lingering travel restrictions, international traffic took off significantly in 2022 wherever these barriers were removed.
Throughout the year, border reopenings in the Asia Pacific region allowed passengers and airlines to return to the skies, greatly accelerating traffic growth in both domestic and international markets.
Asia-Pacific airlines continued to display the highest rates of year-on-year growth with international traffic within Asia at 79.1 per cent of December 2019 levels.
Recent developments related to the reopening of international travel in China offer a positive outlook for the months to come in the region.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said: “The industry left 2022 in far stronger shape than it entered, as most governments lifted COVID-19 travel restrictions during the year and people took advantage of the restoration of their freedom to travel.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 300 airlines, which account for 83 per cent of global air traffic.
For more info, head to iata.org
