Air traffic control failures and staff shortages need to be resolved alongside supply chain issues if global airline recovery is to be maintained into 2024.
The warning came from Iata chief Willie Walsh as the trade body reported that passenger numbers had returned to more than 97% of pre-Covid levels in September.
International traffic rose by almost a third (31.2%) over the same month last year, while domestic levels hit a new high as numbers rose 28% year-on-year to exceed September 2019 by 5%.
Walsh described the summer quarter of the year as ending on a “high note” with record domestic passenger demand for September and continued strong international traffic.
He said: “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.
“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 labour 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.”
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region led year-on-year growth in September at a level of almost 93%, while European carriers’ traffic climbed by 15,7%.