The International Air Transport Association (IATA – the representative body for the worldwide airline industry) reports that total global air passenger demand continued to recover strongly in October, year-on-year (y-o-y). Total demand was up 31.2%, reaching 98.2% of its levels before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. International traffic rose 29.7% and was at 94.4% of its pre-Covid October 2019 level. And domestic demand increased by 33.7% and was 4.8% above its October 2019 level.

“October’s strong result brings the industry ever closer to completing the post-pandemic traffic recovery,” highlighted IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “Domestic markets remain above pre-Covid levels. International demand is recovering, but more slowly. In particular, Asia-Pacific carriers’ international demand is 19.5% behind 2019. This could reflect the late lifting of Covid restrictions in parts of the region as well as commercial developments and political tensions.”

In terms of IATA’s regions, the one that saw the strongest y-o-y growth in total air passenger traffic in October was the Asia-Pacific, at 90.9%. This was followed by the Middle East (23.9%), Africa (21.4%), Europe (14.7%), Latin America (13.6%) and North America (10.5%).

When it came to international passenger traffic, the Asia-Pacific was again in first place, with a y-o-y jump of 80.3% in October. But second place was taken by Africa (25.3%), followed by the Middle East (24.1%). Then came Latin America (21.2%), North America (17.5%) and Europe (16.1%).

IATA regularly monitors six of the world’s biggest domestic air passenger markets, namely Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan and the US. In October, again in y-o-y terms, Chinese domestic traffic skyrocketed 252.6%. Next came India, with an increase of 10%. Thereafter followed Brazil (8.9%), the US (7.9%), Japan (7.8%) and Australia (7.5%).

“People assign a high value to the freedom to travel,” affirmed Walsh. “The strong demand we’ve seen all years confirms that.”

However, to ensure the long-term future of air travel, he emphasised that it was essential that the sector fulfil its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions flying by 2050. At last month’s Third Conference on Aviation Alternative Fuels, governments agreed to a worldwide framework to encourage the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). They also adopted a short-term target of making aviation fuel 5% less carbon intensive by 2030.

“Now, governments need to support that target by immediately putting in place policies to stimulate SAF production,” he urged. “It bears repeating: last year, every drop of SAF that was produced was purchased. The same thing will occur this year. But, with a few notable exceptions, governments are not living up to their obligations to ensure SAF is plentiful and affordable to support the industry’s energy transition.”