Geneva: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that full-year global passenger traffic results for 2021 (revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) fell by 58.4% compared to the full year of 2019. This represented an improvement compared to 2020, when full-year RPKs were down 65.8% versus 2019. Travel retail sales tend to closely correlate with international traveller numbers.
- International passenger demand in 2021 was 75.5% below 2019 levels. Capacity, (measured in available seat kilometers or ASKs) declined 65.3%
- Domestic demand in 2021 was down 28.2% compared to 2019. Capacity contracted by 19.2%
- Total traffic for the month of December 2021 was 45.1% below the same month in 2019, improved from the 47.0% contraction in November, as monthly demand continued to recover despite concerns over Omicron. Capacity was down 37.6%
- Ticket sales for future domestic and international travel deteriorated since November. Tickets sold for travel at any point in the future were at 45% of 2019 levels in the first half of January – a deterioration compared with 50% in December and 56% in November. This suggests that the traditionally less busy January-February period will be weaker than in the absence of Omicron.
IATA said the impact of Omicron slowed the recovery in international demand by about two weeks in December. Volumes rose marginally to 58.4% below 2019 from -60.5% in November.
“Overall travel demand strengthened in 2021. That trend continued into December despite travel restrictions in the face of Omicron. That says a lot about the strength of passenger confidence and the desire to travel. The challenge for 2022 is to reinforce that confidence by normalizing travel. While international travel remains far from normal in many parts of the world, there is momentum in the right direction. Last week, France and Switzerland announced the significant easing of measures. And yesterday the UK removed all testing requirements for vaccinated travellers. We hope others will follow their important lead, particularly in Asia where several key markets remain in virtual isolation,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
By Region:
Asia-Pacific airlines’ full-year international traffic plunged 93.2% in 2021 compared to 2019, which was the deepest decline for any region. It fell 87.5% in the month of December, a bit better than the 89.8% decline in November.
European airlines saw a 67.6% traffic decline in 2021 versus 2019. Capacity fell 57.4%. For the month of December, traffic slid 41.5% compared to December 2019, an improvement over the 43.5% year-to-year decline in November.
Middle Eastern airlines’ annual passenger volumes in 2021 were 71.6% below 2019. Annual capacity fell 57.7%. December’s traffic was down 51.2% compared to December 2019, a solid pick-up from a 54.3% drop in November.
North American airlines’ full year traffic fell 65.6% compared to 2019. Capacity dropped 52.0%. December demand was down 41.7% compared to the same month two years-ago, a pick-up over a 44.6% drop in November.
Latin American airlines had a 66.9% full year traffic decline compared to 2019. Capacity fell 62.2%. Traffic fell 40.4% for the month of December compared to December 2019, significantly bettering the 47.3% decline in November.
African airlines’ international traffic fell 65.2% last year compared to 2019, which was the best performance among regions. Capacity dropped 56.7%. Demand for the month of December was 60.5% below the 2019 period, a deterioration from the 56.5% decline in November, owing to the impact of government travel restrictions in response to Omicron.
