Global demand for air transport grew 42.6% in April compared to the same month in 2022, although this still represents only 90.5% of pre-pandemic levels, according to monthly statistics published today by the International Air Transport Association ( IATA).
The increase was slightly higher in international flights (a 48% year-on-year increase) than in domestic flights (42.6%), a sector where levels prior to the health crisis have been recovered, highlighted IATA, which concentrates more than 300 world airlines with 80% of the global share.
“In April the upward trend already seen in the first quarter continued”, highlighted the general director of the association, Willie Walsh, who attributed this to the relief of inflationary pressures, the increase in consumer confidence, especially in developed countries, and the drop in fuel prices.
Demand in April grew 170% year-on-year in Asia-Pacific (something that is partly explained by the low figures in 2022, especially in China due to the zero covid policy), while the increase was 22% in Europe, 15% in Latin America and 13% in North America.
In the large domestic markets the situation remains very diverse: while in China, also due to the covid factor, the year-on-year increase in April was 536%, in Australia there was a drop of 4.5% and in the United States the rise was 5.5%. .
“The peak season for travel to the northern hemisphere is here, with planes and airports full of people who want to make use of their freedom (…) but unfortunately some governments seem more interested in punitive regulations than in facilitating travel”, Warned Walsh on the other hand.
The head of IATA made this comment in relation to measures that are being taken in the European Union market to try to reduce air traffic as part of its environmental programs.
This is the case of attempts to put a limit on the number of flights at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, one of the busiest in the world, something that has been repeatedly criticized by IATA.
Source: EFE
Source: Gestion
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