The International Air Transport Association has announced that the strong post-pandemic passenger traffic trend continued in September.
• Total traffic in September 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 30.1 per cent compared to September 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 97.3 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
• Domestic traffic hit a new high for the month of September, as traffic rose 28.3 per cent versus September 2022 and exceeded the September 2019 level by 5.0 per cent.
• International traffic climbed 31.2 per cent compared to the same month a year ago. All markets saw double-digit percentage gains year on year. International RPKs reached 93.1 per cent of September 2019 levels.
“The third quarter of 2023 ended on a high note, with record domestic passenger demand for the month of September and continued strong international traffic,” says IATA director general Willie Walsh.
Asia-Pacific airlines had a 92.6 per cent increase in September 2023 traffic compared to September 2022, continuing to lead the regions in terms of annual improvement. Capacity climbed 82.1 per cent and the load factor increased by 4.5 percentage points to 82.5 per cent.
“With the end of 2023 fast approaching, we can look back on a year of strong recovery in demand as passengers took full advantage of their freedom to travel,” says Willie.
“There is every reason to believe that this momentum can be maintained in the New Year, despite economic and political uncertainties in parts of the world. But we need the whole value chain to be ready.
“Supply chain issues in the aircraft manufacturing sector are unacceptable. They have held back the recovery and solutions must be found. The same holds true for infrastructure providers, particularly air navigation service providers.
“Equipment failures, staffing shortages and labor unrest made it impossible to deliver the flying experience our customers expect. A successful 2024 needs the whole value chain to be fully prepared to handle the demand that is coming.”
