The International Air Transport Association has reported a ‘moderate rebound’ in air travel in September 2021 compared to August’s performance, largely driven by domestic markets.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was down 53.4 per cent in September compared to the same month in 2019, an improvement from the 56 per cent defecit posted in August.
A stark contrast continues to exist between domestic air travel, which was down 24.3 per cent versus September 2019, and international passenger demand which was 69.2 per cent down.
“September’s performance is a positive development but recovery in international traffic remains stalled amid continuing border closures and quarantine mandates,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
“The recent US policy change to reopen travel from 33 markets for fully vaccinated foreigners from 8 November is a welcome, if long overdue, development. Along with recent re-openings in other key markets like Australia, Argentina, Thailand, and Singapore this should give a boost to the large-scale restoration of the freedom to travel,”
Regionally, demand was 50.3 per cent down in Europe in September (compared to September 2019), 30.5 per cent down in North America, 61.4 per cent down in Africa, 69 per cent down in Asia-Pacific, 39.4 per cent down in Latin America, and 65.9 per cent down in the Middle East.
IATA has persistently called for the harmonisation of travel rules and argues that fully vaccinated persons should not face any barriers to travel, that testing should enable those without access to vaccines to travel without quarantine, that antigen tests are the key to cost-effective and convenient testing regimes, and that governments should pay for testing.