Domestic air travel demand in April increased 42.6 percent year over year and was up 2.9 percent from 2019 levels, representing a full recovery, according to the International Air Transport Association. Domestic demand in March was at 98.9 percent of 2019 levels.
April domestic capacity increased 42.1 percent for a 97.3 percent recovery from April 2019.
April international air demand also continued to grow, increasing 48 percent from a year prior and reaching 83.6 percent of 2019 levels, up from 81.3 percent a month earlier. International capacity increased 38.1 percent to within 1.3 percent of April 2019 levels.
Globally, April total air traffic increased 52.4 percent year over year and is at 90.5 percent of pre-Covid levels. In March it was at 88 percent of 2019 levels. Global capacity increased 39.7 percent and was at 92.5 percent of April 2019 levels.
“April continued the strong traffic trend we saw in the 2023 first quarter,” IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. “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.”
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Total air demand in April again showed Asia-Pacific with the highest year-over-year growth in both demand and capacity, at 170.8 percent and 135.1 percent, respectively. Load factor was up 3.4 percentage points to 81.3 percent.
Globally, North America was the only market that had surpassed 2019 levels, by 2.1 percent on demand and 1.2 percent on capacity. Latin America was next with demand within 1.5 percent of April 2019 levels and capacity within 0.6 percent. European demand was 92.2 percent recovered, within 1.4 percent recovered.
Domestically, China’s April air demand soared 536.2 percent with capacity up 377.5 percent versus a year prior when the country was still in Covid-19 lockdown. Still, demand is up 6 percent versus April 2019 levels.
Internationally, North American traffic was up 34.8 percent year over year with load factor up 5.2 percentage points to 83.8 percent, the highest among the international markets. North American international traffic is now fully recovered, with demand 0.4 percent above April 2019 levels. Europe had the second-highest load factor at 83.3 percent.
“Heading into the Northern Hemisphere peak travel season, aircraft and airports are full of people eager to make use of their travel freedoms,” Walsh said. “Sadly, some governments appear more keen on punitive regulation than on doing their part to enable hassle-free travel. The Dutch government’s high-handed effort to slash capacity at Schiphol Airport is a prime example.”
