Easing pandemic measures boosts global air ticket sales

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Thanks to the widespread easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, international ticket sales have risen sharply, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday.

"In the period around 8 February (7-day moving average) the number of tickets sold stood at 49% of the same period in 2019," the IATA said, adding:

"The 11-percentage point improvement between the January and February periods is the fastest such increase for any two-week period since the crisis began."

The air transport body said that 28 markets are open to vaccinated passengers without quarantine requirements, while 18 of them do not require pre-departure testing.

"37 markets are open to vaccinated travelers under varying conditions," it added.

Willie Walsh, the group’s director general, said the increase showed travelers' confidence in buying tickets.

"Now we need to further accelerate the removal of travel restrictions," he added.