By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA (AA) – The recovery in air travel continued in November 2022, with global air traffic reaching 75.3% of the pre-pandemic level, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Air traffic – measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs – rose 41.3% year-on-year in November, IATA data showed.
“Traffic results in November reinforce that consumers are thoroughly enjoying the freedom to travel,” Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said in a statement on Monday.
International traffic surged 85.2% compared November 2021, with RPKs reaching 73.7% of the November 2019 level, according to IATA.
While all regions showed improvements compared to the previous year, Asia-Pacific posted the strongest year-on-year hike of 373.9% in November.
“Domestic traffic for November 2022 was up 3.4% compared to November 2021 with travel restrictions in China continuing to dampen the global result. Total November 2022 domestic traffic was at 77.7% of the November 2019 level,” read the report.
Separate IATA data showed that demand for air cargo – measured in cargo ton-kilometers – fell 13.7% on an annual basis in November.
Capacity contracted for the second month in a row, down 1.9% from the previous year.