Global air passenger demand maintained strong recovery momentum throughout August 2022 despite disruptions and the introduction of passenger caps at airports across Europe during the peak summer period, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) was up 67.7 per cent compared to the same time last year, but 1.6 per cent lower than July 2022, according to the association’s latest passenger data. Globally, traffic represented 73.7 per cent of pre-crisis levels.
International bookings increased in August after having lost momentum in July, closing the gap with already elevated domestic demand.
International traffic rose 115.6 per cent year-over-year, spurred by the removal or easing of travel restrictions in key Asian destinations, including Japan, while domestic traffic for the month was up 26.5 per cent compared to the previous year and 85.4 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
International markets sported an 83.2 per cent load factor compared to 79.7 per cent for domestic travel. The industry-wide passenger load factor stood at 81.8 per cent of 2019 levels, with European carriers leading at 86.2 per cent.
European airlines also saw 78.8 per cent growth in international RPKs over the year to August and reached 78.6 per cent of pre-crisis levels. Within Europe, international traffic currently stands 20.1 per cent below pre-pandemic levels in seasonally adjusted terms.
“The Northern Hemisphere peak summer travel season finished on a high note,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “Considering the prevailing economic uncertainties, travel demand is progressing well.”
On a global scale, international capacity increases continue to drive recovery as available seat-kilometres (ASKs) grew by 43.6 per cent year-over-year in August. Industry-wide capacity is currently at 77.2 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with North and Latin America coming in at just 9 per cent below 2019 levels.
IATA said forward bookings continue to give a positive outlook and “confirm that the willingness to travel is resilient for both domestic and international traffic globally”.