Air travel recovery the theme of 2022

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the recovery in air travel continued in December 2022 and for the full year.

Total traffic in 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 64.4 per cent compared to 2021. Globally, full-year 2022 traffic was at 68.5 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Total traffic in December rose 39.7 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year, and was at 76.9 per cent of December 2019 levels.

International traffic increased 152.7 per cent in 2022 compared with 2021, reaching 62.2 per cent of 2019 levels.

December 2022 international traffic rose 80.2 per cent on December 2021 levels, reaching 75.1 per cent of the level in December 2019.

Domestic traffic last year climbed 10.9 per cent compared to 2021. It was at 79.6 per cent of 2019’s level.

Domestic travel in December 2022 was up 2.6 per cent compared to the same month the year before, and 79.9 per cent of December 2019 traffic.

Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, 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.

“This momentum is expected to continue in the New Year,” despite mixed responses from some governments over China’s reopening.