African passenger traffic up by 90.5 % in september – IATA
The Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) by African airlines increased by 90.5 per cent in September when compared to the same period in 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said.
Globally, the total traffic in September 2022 measured in RPKs rose 57 per cent compared to September 2021, while universally, traffic is now at 73.8 per cent of September 2019 levels.
A statement by IATA said that the September 2022 capacity was up 47.2 per cent and load factor climbed 16.7 percentage points to 73.6 per cent, the lowest among regions.
The domestic traffic for September 2022 was up 6.9 per cent compared to the year-ago period, IATA added, while total September 2022 domestic traffic was at 81 per cent of the September 2019 level.
International traffic climbed 122.2 per cent versus September 2021. September 2022 international RPKs reached 69.9 per cent of September 2019 levels. All markets reported strong growth, led by Asia-Pacific.
“Even with economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the demand for air transport continues to recover ground. The outlier is still China with its pursuit of a zero COVID strategy keeping borders largely closed and creating a demand roller coaster ride for its domestic market, with September being down 46.4 per cent on the previous year.
“That is in sharp contrast to the rest of Asia-Pacific, which, despite China’s dismal performance, posted a 464.8 per cent increase for international traffic compared to the year-ago period,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 464.8 per cent rise in September traffic compared to September 2021, the strongest year-over-year rate among the regions.
Capacity rose 165.3 per cent and the load factor was up 41.5 percentage points to 78.3%.
European carriers September traffic climbed 78.3 per cent versus September 2021, while capacity increased 43.8 per cent, and load factor moved up 16.3 percentage points to 84.1 per cent, second highest among the regions.
Middle Eastern airlines posted a 149.7 per cent traffic rise in September compared to September 2021 and the capacity increased 63.5 per cent versus the year-ago period, while load factor climbed 27.6 percentage points to 80 per cent.
North American carriers had a 128.9 per cent traffic rise in September versus the 2021 period. Capacity increased 63 per cent, and load factor climbed 24.6 percentage points to 85.4 per cent, which was the highest among the regions for a fourth consecutive month.
Latin American airlines’ September traffic rose 99.4 per cent compared to the same month in 2021. September capacity climbed 73.7 per cent and load factor increased 10 per cent points to 83.5 per cent.
