Global air passenger traffic continued its recovery in December, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Total December 2022 traffic, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers, increased 39.7 percent year over year, and was 76.9 percent of December 2019 levels, up from 75.3 percent in November. Full-year 2022 traffic was up 64.4 percent compared with 2021 and was 68.5 percent of 2019 pre-pandemic levels—an improvement over last year's 41.7 percent recovery, according to IATA.
The regions in 2022 with the largest total traffic gains over 2021 were the Middle East, up 2.5 times last year's figure, and Europe, which doubled its traffic.
December global capacity, as measured in available seat kilometers, increased 23 percent year over year, representing 76.9 percent of December 2019 levels. Full-year 2022 capacity was up 39.8 percent, for a 71.9 percent recovery level. Full-year 2022 global passenger load factor was 78.7 percent, up 11.8 percentage points year over year and down 3.9 percent compared with 2019.
"The industry left 2022 in far stronger shape than it entered, as most governments lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions during the year, and people took advantage of the restoration of their freedom to travel," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. "This momentum is expected to continue in the new year, despite some governments' over-reactions to China's re-opening."
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International demand grew at a quicker pace than domestic, with December international traffic increasing 80.2 percent year over year, representing a 75.1 percent recovery compared with December 2019. International capacity was up 47.8 percent year over year, for a 74.8 percent recovery to its pre-pandemic level. Full-year 2022 international traffic increased 152.7 percent and reached 62.2 percent of 2019 levels.
Asia-Pacific once again saw the highest-percentage increases in traffic and capacity for the month, due to the region's 2021 restrictions and their recent relaxations, particularly in China. December traffic for the region was up 302.7 percent with capacity up 153.5 percent. For full-year 2022, traffic was up 363.3 percent year over year, also the highest of all the geographies. Capacity for 2022 increased 129.9 percent, and load factor climbed 37.3 percentage points to 74 percent.
North American carriers reported a 130.2 percent traffic increase for December 2022 versus 2021. Capacity was up 71.3 percent and load factor increased 20.7 percentage points to 80.8 percent.
Total December 2022 domestic traffic was up 2.6 percent year over year, while capacity declined 2.5 percent. Compared with December 2019, domestic traffic for the month was 79.9 percent recovered, and capacity was 83.2 percent. Full-year 2022 domestic traffic was up 10.9 percent year over year, reaching 79.6 percent of 2019 levels.
China was the only domestic market to report December declines in both traffic and capacity. Brazil reported a 5.7 percent decrease year over year in December traffic. Australia reported the largest percentage increases with December traffic up 72.7 percent and capacity increased by 19.5 percent. All regions showed declines when compared with December 2019 figures.
"Let us hope that 2022 becomes known as the year in which governments locked away forever the regulatory shackles that kept their citizens earthbound for so long," Walsh said. "It is vital that governments learn the lesson that travel restrictions and border closures have little positive impact in terms of slowing the spread of infectious diseases in our globally interconnected world."
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