April data shows US carriers posted numbers above 2019 levels for both domestic and international traffic, according to IATA >>
Total airline traffic globally, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs, is now at 90.5 percent of pre-Covid levels, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association. Total airline traffic in April 2023 rose 45.8 percent compared to the same period last year.
At 81.3 percent, industry load factor was only 1.8 percentage points below pre-pandemic level.
Domestic traffic worldwide for April rose 42.6 percent compared to the year-ago period and has now fully recovered, posting a 2.9 percent increase over the April 2019 results.
North American carriers reported a 34.8 percent year over year increase in traffic in April. Capacity rose 26.5 percent, and load factor rose 5.2 percentage points to 83.8 percent, which was the highest among the regions. Domestic demand among US carriers climbed 5.5 percent in April and was 3.3 percent above the April 2019 levels.
Globally, international traffic climbed 48.0 percent versus April 2022 with all markets recording healthy growth. International RPKs reached 83.6 percent of April 2019 levels. North American international traffic is now fully recovered, with RPKs 0.4 percent above April 2019 levels.
The reopening of China and Japan saw demand skyrocket in the region. Asia-Pacific airlines reported a 192.7 percent increase in April 2023 traffic compared to April 2022. Capacity climbed 145.3 percent and the load factor increased by 13.2 percentage points to 81.6 percent.
China’s domestic traffic rose 536.2 percent in April compared to a year ago and surpassing the April 2019 levels by 6.0 percent.
“Heading into the Northern Hemisphere peak travel season, aircraft and airports are full of people eager to make use of their travel freedoms,” commented Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
“April continued the strong traffic trend we saw in the 2023 first quarter. The easing of inflation and rising consumer confidence in most OECD countries combined with declining jet fuel prices, suggests sustained strong air travel demand and moderating cost pressures,” Walsh said.