Strong post-pandemic air traffic trend continued in August

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the trend of strong post-pandemic passenger traffic continued in August this year.

Total traffic in August 2023 – measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs – rose 28.4 per cent compared with August 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 95.7 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels.

Domestic traffic for August rose 25.4 per cent versus August 2022 and was 9.2 per cent above the August 2019 results. This is largely driven by Chinese domestic demand.

Indian domestic RPKs rose 23.2 per cent compared with a year ago and have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels for seven consecutive months.

However, Japan’s domestic market was impacted by Typhoon Khanun, which caused major air traffic disruptions in southern Japan. Domestic RPKs grew 8.7 per cent year over year, down on the 13.4 per cent growth recorded in the previous month.

International traffic, though, climbed 30.4 per cent compared with the same month a year ago. All markets saw double-digit percentage gains year on year. International RPKs reached 88.5 per cent of August 2019 levels.

“Demand for air travel performed well in August,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “For the year to date, international traffic has increased by 50 per cent versus last year and ticket sales data show international bookings strengthening for travel in the last part of the year.”