The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a report, According to which in February 2021 heavy decrease in passenger traffic recorded compared to February 2019.
The IATA data comparison of passenger travel between February 2019 and February 2021 measured in revenue passenger kilometers is as follows:
- The total demand for air travel in February 2021 decreased by 74.7 per cent compared to February 2019. This represents a more significant decline than the one registered in January 2021 (72.2 per cent) in comparison with the one registered two years ago.
- The international passenger demand fell by 88.7 per cent in February 2021 compared to February 2019. Therefore, all regions experienced negative passenger demand compared to January 2021.
- The total domestic demand fell by 51.0 per cent compared to the pre-pandemic situation, February 2019.
According to the Director-General of IATA Willie Walsh, February did not show any improvement in international travel. Thus, most indicators went on the wrong way after more stringent rules were imposed to halt the further spread of the new Coronavirus mutations.
International Passenger Markets
Asia-Pacific airlines: data shows that the passenger traffic in this group of airlines decreased by 95.2 per cent compared to February 2019, a little more from the 94.8 per cent decline registered in January 2021. The regions suffered from this steep decline for eight months, with a capacity down of 87.5 per cent.
European airlines: recorded a decline of 89 per cent in February 2021 compared to February 2019, worse than the 83.4 per cent decline registered in January 2021.
Middle Eastern airlines: recorded a decline of 83.1 per cent this February compared to 2019, worse than the decline of 82.1 per cent in January.
North American airlines: marked a fall of 83.1 percent this February compared to February 2021, a deterioration from the decline of 79.2 per cent registered in January 2021.
Latin American airlines: registered a drop of 83.5 per cent compared to February 2019, much worse than the 78.5 per cent decline in January 2021.
African airlines: registered a fall of 68 per cent this February compared to two years ago, a decline compared to 66.1 per cent recorded in January 2021 compared to January 2019.
Domestic Passenger Markets
Australian airlines: registered a drop of 60.5 per cent in February 2021 compared to February 2019, dramatically improved from the decline of 77.3 per cent recorded in January 2021.
US airlines: registered a decline of 56.1 per cent in February compared to the same month in 2019, which improved from the drop of 58.4 per cent in January 2021 compared to January 2019.
Earlier, ACI Europe expressed its concern over the future of European air travel after the sector lost 1.72 billion passengers all over Europe since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, they reported a profound decrease in Europe’s arrivals based on the data provided from more than 500 airports in 46 different countries.
