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The International Air Transport Association (Iata) described the month of March as disastrous for the aviation industry, since demand, which is measured in total revenue per kilometer of passengers (RPK), fell 52.9 percent in Comparison with the same period of the previous year.
This was the largest decline in recent history, reflecting the impact of government actions to stem the spread of Covid-19, said Iata, which represents 290 airlines, which comprise 82 percent of global air traffic.
In seasonally adjusted terms, overall passenger volumes returned to levels last seen in 2006.
March capacity for available seat kilometers (ASK) fell 36.2 percent and the load factor slumped 21.4 percentage points to 60.6 percent, it said in a statement released in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“March was a disastrous month for aviation. Airlines increasingly felt the increasing impact of Covid-19-related border closings and restrictions on mobility, including in domestic markets.
“Demand was at the same level as in 2006, but we have the fleets and the employees to double that. Worse yet, we know that the situation further deteriorated in April and most signs point to a slow recovery, “said Iata CEO and CEO Alexandre de Juniac.
International passenger demand in March contracted 55.8% compared to March 2019.
That’s far worse than the 10.3 percent annual decline in February. All regions recorded double-digit percentage drops in traffic. Capacity fell 42.8 percent, and the load factor fell 18.4 percentage points to 62.5 percent, Iata said.
Asia-Pacific airlines led the declines as March traffic fell 65.5 percent compared to the year-ago period, which was more than double the 30.7 percent decline in February. . Capacity fell 51.4 percent and the load factor collapsed 23.4 percentage points to 57.1 percent, “he said.
Domestic travel demand declined 47.8 percent in March compared to March 2019 with double-digit percentage declines in all markets. This compares to an annual decrease of 21.3 percent in February. Capacity fell 24.5 percent and load factor fell 26.0 percentage points to 58.1 percent.
Chinese airlines see steepest drops
Iata said that Chinese airlines continued to experience the largest declines, with domestic demand falling 65.5 percent in March compared to March 2019. This, however, was an improvement from the 85 percent annual decline in February as the country began to recover. open national air travel.
Japanese airlines reported a 55.8% year-over-year decrease in domestic role-playing games, despite not implementing any widespread blockade.
“The industry is in free fall and we haven’t hit bottom (yet). But there will come a time, I hope soon, when the authorities are ready to start easing mobility restrictions and opening the borders. It is imperative that governments work with industry now to prepare for that day, ”said de Juniac.
He said it is the only way to ensure that the aviation industry has measures in place to keep passengers safe while traveling and to assure governments that aviation will not be a vector in the spread of the disease.
“We must also avoid the confusion and complexity that followed 9/11. Global standards that are mutually accepted and operationally practicable will be critical to achieving this. The only way to get there is by working together, ”he said.
– Bernama
