Travel demand continues to grow as domestic traffic fully recovers

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced continued strong passenger traffic demand in April. Total traffic in April 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 45.8% compared to April 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 90.5% of pre-Covid levels. At 81.3%, industry load factor was only 1.8 percentage points below pre-pandemic level.

Domestic traffic for April rose 42.6% compared to the year-ago period and has now fully recovered, posting a 2.9% increase over the April 2019 results.

International traffic climbed 48.0% versus April 2022 with all markets recording healthy growth, with carriers in the Asia-Pacific region continuing to lead the recovery. International RPKs reached 83.6% of April 2019 levels.

“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,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“Heading into the Northern Hemisphere peak travel season, aircraft and airports are full of people eager to make use of their travel freedoms. Airlines are working hard to accommodate them with a smooth travel experience despite continuing supply chain shortages and other operational challenges.

“In just a few days, leaders of the global aviation community will gather in Istanbul at the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit. Regulation and other key issues, including the critical topic of sustainability, will be on the agenda,” said Walsh.

Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), announced that leaders of the global aviation industry are gathering in Istanbul, Turkey, for the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, with Pegasus Airlines as the host airline.

The event (4-6 June) attracts the industry’s most senior leaders from among IATA’s more than 300 member airlines, as well as senior government officials, strategic partners, equipment suppliers, and media.

“In a few days, Istanbul will become the aviation capital of the world. Airlines will meet to review the industry’s recovery from COVID-19, to plan the way forward to a more sustainable future, to discuss the opportunities for technology to drive efficiencies from modern retailing to improved facilitation, and to understand the common regulatory challenges they face. Aviation is important. Connecting the world even as geopolitical divides deepen is a vital mission that requires profitable, safe, efficient and sustainable airlines. The outcomes of this AGM must set the direction for even more effective global connectivity,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

This will be the second time that the AGM is hosted in Istanbul, which last hosted in 2008. Turkey is rebounding strongly from the pandemic shut down. In 2022 travel to/from Turkey  increased nearly 60% and it is now the 7th largest international passenger market in the world.

“Since we were last in Istanbul, Turkey has become an incredible global aviation powerhouse. Its carriers are leading the way in regional and international connectivity, and the magnificent new airport puts some other nations’ lack of airport investment to shame. There’s no doubt that Türkiye’s importance to global aviation will continue to grow significantly,” said Walsh.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Pegasus Airlines, and Chair of the IATA Board of Governors Mehmet T. Nane, said: “We are enormously proud to be hosting our industry partners in the great city of Istanbul and look forward to welcoming everyone here for the IATA AGM, particularly as we look ahead to our 100th aircraft milestone on the 100th anniversary of Republic of Türkiye later this year. Aviation came together to assist the people of Türkiye to rebuild after the tragic earthquake in February. Now aviation comes together to debate vital issues concerning our pathway to net-zero CO2 in 2050, the diversity of our industry, our operational recovery from the depths of COVID, and many other topics.”

In addition to the updated industry economic outlook, key topics to be addressed include:

A highlight will be the fourth edition of the Diversity and Inclusion Awards sponsored by Qatar Airways. These awards recognize organizations and individuals who are making a difference in helping to drive the industry’s 25by2025 initiative to make the aviation industry more gender balanced.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the EU exported €1.1 billion worth of bicycles (both electric and non-electric) (+22 percent compared with 2021), according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union on the World Bicycle Day. The imports amounted to more than double the exports, with €2.5 billion worth of bicycles (+32 percent).

The overall increase in the trade value of bicycles can be attributed to an increase in the trade of electric bicycles, which are typically more expensive.

A further look into the 2022 data shows that the EU exported 365,000 electric bicycles (+16 percent compared with 2021) and imported 1.2 million electric bicycles (+16 percent). Meanwhile, the EU exported 1 million non-electric bicycles (-31 percent compared with 2021) and imported 5.2 million (-9 percent).

WAM