IATA Blames Governments For The Latest Travel Decline

An IATA report shows that the recovery in airline traffic was still going strong in November before Omicron appeared.

As new markets reopened, global demand continued to rise.

Due to China’s increased travel restrictions, domestic traffic has dropped.

The total demand for air travel in November 2021 was 47% lower than in November 2019 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres, or RPKs).

Compared to October of last year, when the economy contracted by 49%, this improved over 2019.

After two months of gains, domestic air travel fell marginally in November.

Compared to October’s 21% decrease, domestic RPKs declined by 25% year over year vs 2019.

Compared to the previous year, traffic in China declined 51%, primarily due to several cities imposing harsher travel restrictions to limit Covid-19 infections.

November’s international passenger demand was 61 percent lower than it would have been had it not been for October’s 65 percent decline.

“The recovery in air traffic continued in November.

“Unfortunately, governments over-reacted to the emergence of the Omicron variant at the close of the month and resorted to the tried-and-failed methods of border closures, excessive testing of travellers and quarantine to slow the spread.

“Not surprisingly, international ticket sales made in December and early January fell sharply compared to 2019, suggesting a more difficult first quarter than had been expected.

“If the experience of the last 22 months has shown anything, it is that there is little to no correlation between the introduction of travel restrictions and preventing transmission of the virus across borders.

“And these measures place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.

“If experience is the best teacher, let us hope that governments pay more attention as we begin the New Year,” said Willie Walsh, IATA director-general.