Global Air Travel Surges: IATA’s September Report

In September, the robust post-pandemic surge in global air travel persisted, as revealed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its November 9 publication. The overall air traffic, gauged by revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), experienced a 30.1 percent worldwide increase from September 2022, reaching 97.3 percent of pre-pandemic levels. In the United States, air traffic hit a record high, soaring by 28.3 percent from the previous year and surpassing pre-pandemic figures by 5 percent, underscoring the ongoing strong demand for travel trends. Internationally, air travel reached 93.1 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Certain regions witnessed remarkable year-over-year growth. Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region reported a substantial 92.6 percent increase from September 2022, driven in part by the renewed interest in travel across the region this year compared to 2022. This resurgence was particularly notable for countries like China, where pandemic-era travel restrictions persisted longer than in other parts of the world. Airlines in Africa experienced a 28.1 percent rise, while the Middle East and Latin America recorded increases of 26.6 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively. North American airlines saw an 18.9 percent increase, and European airlines observed a 15.7 percent uptick.
Reflecting on the year, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, highlighted a strong recovery in demand as passengers embraced their freedom to travel. Walsh expressed optimism about sustaining this momentum in the upcoming year, despite economic and political uncertainties in certain regions. However, he emphasized the need for the entire aviation value chain to be adequately prepared. Walsh addressed issues in the aircraft manufacturing sector, labeling supply chain challenges as unacceptable hurdles that have impeded recovery. He also called attention to infrastructure providers, citing equipment failures, staffing shortages, and labor unrest as impediments to delivering the flying experience customers expect. Walsh underscored the importance of the entire value chain being fully equipped to handle the anticipated demand in 2024.