Global airline passenger traffic rises in February

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global airline passenger traffic increased by 55.5 percent in February compared to the same month last year, reaching approximately 85 percent of the pre-COVID-19 level. IATA announced the global total passenger demand statistics for February. Accordingly, passenger traffic (passenger revenue per kilometer - RPK) increased by 55.5 percent in February compared to the same month last year. Thus, passenger revenue per kilometer in February reached 84.9 percent of the level before the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic passenger demand also increased by 25.2 percent in February, when international passenger demand increased by 89.7 percent compared to the same month in 2022. While international passenger demand reached 77.5 percent of the pre-pandemic level in February, domestic passenger demand was 97.2 percent of the level recorded in the same month in 2019. IATA Director General Willie Walsh, whose views were included in the statement, said that despite uncertain economic signals, demand for air travel around the world, and particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, remained strong. Noting that passenger demand remained approximately 15 percent below 2019 levels in February, Walsh emphasized that this gap was closing every month.