In September, global air passenger demand continued to recover strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. IATA is the global representative body for the airline industry.

Total air passenger traffic in September jumped 30.1%, year-on-year (y-o-y). This took total traffic to 97.3% of its pre-Covid levels. International air passenger traffic was 31.2% higher, y-o-y, reaching 93.1% of its pre-pandemic levels. Domestic traffic increased by 28.3% over the same period, and was 5% above its pre-Covid level.

“The third quarter of 2023 ended on a high note, with record domestic passenger demand for the month of September and continued strong international traffic,” highlighted IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “With the end of 2023 fast approaching, we can look back on a year of strong recovery in demand as passengers took full advantage of their freedom to travel. There is every reason to believe that this momentum can be maintained in the New Year, despite economic and political uncertainties in parts of the world.”

Regarding IATA’s six regions, the one that saw the strongest y-o-y growth in total air passenger traffic was the Asia-Pacific, up by 87.9%. The Middle East ranked second (26.1%), followed by Africa (24.6%). Ranked fourth was Latin America (15.7%), then Europe (13.8%) and finally North America (9.7%).

When it came to specifically international air traffic growth (y-o-y), the Asia-Pacific again ranked first, rocketing 92.6%. But Africa came second (28.1%) and Latin America third (26.8%). The Middle East ranked next (26.6%), then North America (18.9%) and finally Europe (15.7%).

The six domestic air travel markets regularly observed by IATA were Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan and the US. Of these, it was China that recorded by far the biggest y-o-y growth, at 168.7%. However, this was due to a low base, because of domestic travel restrictions in force in that country during September last year. Japan was the market with the second strongest growth, at 19.9%. Then came India (17.2%), Australia (7.2%), the US (5.5%) and Brazil (5%).