Global air traffic reached 77% of 2019’s level in December and almost 69% of pre-pandemic traffic over the whole of 2022, according to latest International Air Transport Association (Iata) data.
Iata reported international traffic hit 75% of the December 2019 level at the end of last year and international traffic for the whole of 2022 reached 62% of 2019’s level.
Domestic traffic reached 80% of the pre-Covid level in December and was only 0.3 percentage points lower over the year as a whole.
European airlines saw their revenue double year on year despite capacity rising by considerably less at two-thirds that in 2021.
However, European carriers’ revenue in 2022 remained 22% down on 2019 and overall capacity 18% down.
Capacity in North America was just 10% down on 2019 and revenue 11% down over the year, while in Latin America and the Caribbean capacity was down just 13% and revenue 14%.
By contrast, Middle East airlines’ capacity remained 25% down and revenue 26% lower than in 2019, while capacity among African carriers was 32% down on pre-pandemic levels and revenue 1% lower.
Asia Pacific remained the most-affected region, with capacity half the 2019 level at 49% down and revenue 56%
Iata director general Willie Walsh noted: “The industry left 2022 in far stronger shape than it entered, as most governments lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions during the year and people took advantage of the restoration of their freedom to travel.”
He said: “This momentum is expected to continue despite some governments’ over-reactions to China’s re-opening.
“It is vital governments learn the lesson that travel restrictions and border closures have little positive impact in terms of slowing the spread of infectious diseases.
“However, they have an enormous negative impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as on the global economy.”