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International air traffic reaches 99% of pre-pandemic levels

Passenger demand is still well below pre-covid figures

Travel in November 2023 reached 99% of 2019 demand

According to the IATA, total air traffic figures in November 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) were up by 30% compared to November 2022. 

Globally, traffic is now at 99% of November 2019 levels.

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 19% traffic rise in November 2023 compared to November 2022 with capacity increasing by 19% year-on-year.

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The Asia-Pacific region continued to report the strongest year-on-year results (+64%) with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year.

Growth was particularly strong in China (+272%) as it recovered from the Covid travel restrictions that were still in place a year ago. 

US domestic travel, benefiting from strong Thanksgiving holidays demand, reached a new high, increasing by 9% compared November 2019.

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IATA director general Willie Walsh said: “We are moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year for air travel. Economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. 

"International travel remains 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels but that gap is rapidly closing. And domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April.” 

For more information, visit www.iata.org 

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