The traffic figures for September 2022 published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that demand remains high. The total volume measured in passenger kilometers increased by 2022 percent compared to September 57 and has reached 73,8 percent of the September 2019 value.

Domestic traffic in September 2022 increased by 6,9 percent compared to the same period last year. Total domestic traffic in September 2022 was 81 percent of September 2019 levels. International traffic increased by 122,2 percent compared to September 2021. International RPKs in September 2022 were 69,9 percent of September 2019 levels. All markets recorded a strong growth led by Asia Pacific.

Different developments

From a regional perspective, however, there were some significant differences. European airline traffic increased by 78,3 percent in September compared to September 2021. Capacity increased by 43,8 percent and load factor increased by 16,3 percentage points to 84,1 percent, the second-highest among regions.

European airline traffic increased by 78,3 percent in September compared to September 2021. Capacity increased by 43,8 percent and load factor increased by 16,3 percentage points to 84,1 percent, the second-highest among regions.

Middle East airlines saw traffic increase by 149,7 percent in September compared to September 2021. Capacity in September increased by 63,5 percent compared to the same period last year and load factor increased by 27,6 percentage points to 80,0 Percent.

Traffic volume for Latin American airlines increased by 99,4 percent in September compared to the same month in 2021. Capacity increased by 73,7 percent and load factor increased by 10,8 percentage points to 83,5 percent in September.

African airlines recorded a 90,5 percent year-on-year increase in RPKs in September. In September 2022, capacity increased by 47,2 percent and utilization increased by 16,7 percentage points to 73,6 percent, the lowest of all regions.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 464,8 percent increase in traffic in September compared to September 2021, the highest year-on-year increase rate among the regions. Capacity increased by 165,3 percent and load factor by 41,5 percentage points to 78,3 percent.

“Despite the economic and geopolitical uncertainties, demand for air transport continues to gain ground. The outlier remains China, with its zero-COVID strategy that keeps borders largely closed and creating a rollercoaster ride of demand in the domestic market: In September, demand fell 46,4 percent year-on-year. This is in stark contrast to the rest of Asia-Pacific, which saw a 464,8 percent increase in international traffic compared to the same period last year, despite China's poor performance," said Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA.