Scheduled global airline capacity grew about 1.5 million
seats week over week this week to 57.5 million, though further growth might be
limited over the coming months, according to analysis by OAG.
Global capacity still is under half of what it was this time
last year, and recent industry assessments indicate that "is likely to be
around where we will remain for the remainder of the year unless some dramatic
development occurs", according to OAG analyst John Grant. "Passenger
demand continues to be much weaker, with traveller confidence drained by spikes
of Covid-19 activity in both Asia and Europe."
The UK's announcement over the weekend of quarantine
requirements for travellers arriving from Spain, for example, "will be the
final nail in the coffin for some tour operators over the winter", he
added.
Northeast Asia and Eastern Europe are currently operating at
the highest capacity levels relative to pre-pandemic levels, each at about 80
per cent of their January capacity. For Northeast Asia, most of that is in the
domestic markets of China, Japan and South Korea and is unlikely to go much
higher until international capacity restrictions, particularly in China, are
lifted, according to OAG. Eastern Europe, meanwhile, is likely to see some
additional recovery as restrictions on international capacity in Russia are
eased.