Global air travel demand ‘close to surpassing’ pre-pandemic 2019

Global air travel demand topped 99% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels in November, fresh Iata data reveals.

International traffic rose 26.4% over November 2022 with the Asia-Pacific region continuing to report the strongest year-over-year rebound at 63.8%. All regions showed improvement compared to the prior year.

Domestic carryings rose by 34.8% year-on-year to end the month 6.7% above the November 2019 level. 

Growth was particularly strong in China (+272%) as it recovered from the Covid travel restrictions that were still in place a year ago. 

US domestic travel, benefitting from strong Thanksgiving holidays demand, reached a new high, expanding 9.1% over November 2019.

Iata director general Willie Walsh said: “We are moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year for air travel. 

“Economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. 

“International travel remains 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels but that gap is rapidly closing. And domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April.”

He added: “Aviation’s rapid recovery from Covid demonstrates just how important flying is to people and to businesses. 

“In parallel to aviation’s recovery, governments recognised the urgency of transitioning from jet fuel to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for aviation’s decarbonisation. 

The third conference on aviation alternative fuels in November saw governments agree that we should see 5% carbon savings by 2030 from SAF. 

“This was followed up at COP28 in December where governments agreed that we need a broad transition from fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of climate change.”

Walsh said: “Airlines don’t need convincing. They agreed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and every drop of SAF ever made in that effort has been bought and used. There simply is not enough SAF being produced. 

“So we look to 2024 to be the year when governments follow-up on their own declarations and finally deliver comprehensive policy measures to incentivise the rapid scaling-up of SAF production.”