IATA: Passenger recovery accelerates, air cargo growth continues in February

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 6 (Bernama) — Air journey and demand for world air cargo markets improved in February 2022, in line with the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA).

In a press release at present, IATA mentioned Omicron-related impacts moderated exterior of Asia whereas the battle in Ukraine, which started on Feb 24, didn’t have a significant influence on site visitors ranges. 

It mentioned complete site visitors in February 2022, which was measured in income passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 115.9 per cent in comparison with February 2021. 

“That’s an enchancment from January 2022, which was up 83.1 per cent in comparison with January 2021.

“In comparison with February 2019, nonetheless, site visitors was down 45.5 per cent,” IATA mentioned.

It added that home site visitors in February 2022 was up 60.7 per cent from February 2021, constructing on a 42.6 per cent improve in January 2022 in comparison with January 2021. 

Home site visitors in February was 21.8 per cent beneath the volumes of February 2019.

In the meantime, worldwide RPKs rose 256.8 per cent versus February 2021, enhancing from a 165.5 per cent year-over-year (y-o-y) improve in January 2022 versus the year-earlier interval. 

It mentioned all areas improved their efficiency in comparison with the prior month regardless of February 2022 worldwide RPKs slipping by 59.6 per cent in comparison with the identical month in 2019.

“The restoration in air journey is gathering steam as governments in lots of elements of the world carry journey restrictions,” mentioned IATA director common Willie Walsh.

In the meantime, IATA mentioned the demand for world air cargo markets elevated in February 2022 regardless of a difficult working backdrop.

On the demand facet, it mentioned, manufacturing exercise ramped up rapidly after the early February Lunar New Yr holidays. 

“Capability was positively influenced by the overall and progressive rest of COVID-19 journey restrictions, decreased flight cancellations as a result of Omicron-related elements (exterior of Asia), and fewer winter climate operational disruptions,” mentioned IATA in a separate assertion.

World demand, which is measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), was up 2.9 per cent in comparison with February 2021 (2.5 per cent for worldwide operations).

Whereas cargo volumes continued to rise, the expansion fee decelerated from the 8.7 per cent y-o-y enlargement in December, it mentioned.

Capability was 12.5 per cent above February 2021 (8.9 per cent for worldwide operations).

Whereas that is in constructive territory in comparison with pre-COVID-19 ranges, capability stays constrained by recording 5.6 per cent beneath February 2019 ranges, mentioned IATA.

It additionally mentioned the influence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had a restricted impact globally on February’s efficiency because it occurred close to the tip of the month.

IATA expects the detrimental impacts of battle and associated sanctions (notably increased vitality prices and decreased commerce) will grow to be extra seen from March.

Walsh mentioned the demand for air cargo continued to broaden regardless of rising challenges within the buying and selling atmosphere. 

“That’s not prone to be the case in March because the financial penalties of the battle in Ukraine take maintain.

“Sanction-related shifts in manufacturing and financial exercise, rising oil costs and geopolitical uncertainty are anticipated to take their toll on air cargo’s efficiency,” he added.

— BERNAMA

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