June global air demand reached 94.2 percent of June 2019 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association, representing a slight dip from the 96.1 percent recovery level reported for May. The pace of growth also slowed.
Total June traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, increased 31 percent year over year. May's increase was 39.1 percent. Global capacity increased 28.8 percent versus June 2022, and reached 94.5 percent of June 2019 levels. Passenger load factor increased 1.4 percentage points year over year to 84.2 percent.
Still, "the northern summer travel season got off to a strong start in June with double-digit demand growth and average load factors topping 84 percent," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. "Planes are full, which is good news for airlines, local economies, and travel and tourism-dependent jobs."
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June domestic traffic increased 27.2 percent year over year and was 5.1 percent above June 2019 levels. Domestic capacity was up 24.7 percent, representing an 8.7 percent increase versus June 2019. All markets showed growth over June 2019 levels. China continued to report a triple-digit year-over-year increase (129.6 percent) in demand, while Australia was the only domestic region with a drop in domestic traffic (1.7 percent) versus June 2022, although it remained 3.9 percent above pre-pandemic levels, according to IATA.
International demand for June was up 33.7 percent versus a year prior, with all markets showing "robust growth." That figure represents 88.2 percent of June 2019 levels. Capacity increased 31.7 percent, which was down 13.2 percent versus pre-pandemic levels. Only North America reported an increase over June 2019 demand levels, of 2 percent. Though Asia-Pacific reported the highest increase year over year, traffic remains down 29 percent from June 2019.
"As strong as travel demand has been, arguably it could be even stronger," Walsh said. "Demand is outrunning capacity growth. Well-documented problems in the aviation supply chain mean that many airlines have not taken delivery of all the new, more environmentally friendly aircraft they had expected, while numerous aircraft are parked awaiting critical spare parts. … Delays and trimmed schedules are frustrating for both passengers and their airlines."
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