Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the strong post-pandemic passenger traffic trend continued in September.
Total traffic in September 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 30.1% compared to September 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 97.3% of pre-COVID levels.
Domestic traffic hit a new high for the month of September, as traffic rose 28.3% versus September 2022 and exceeded the September 2019 level by 5.0%.
International traffic climbed 31.2% compared to the same month a year ago. All markets saw double-digit percentage gains year on year. International RPKs reached 93.1% of September 2019 levels.
“The third quarter of 2023 ended on a high note, with record domestic passenger demand for the month of September and continued strong international traffic,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Air Passenger Market in Detail
September 2023 (% year-on-year) | World Share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(Level)3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Market | 100% | 30.1% | 28.8% | 0.8% | 82.6% |
Africa | 2.1% | 24.6% | 27.2% | -1.5% | 73.1% |
Asia Pacific | 22.1% | 87.9% | 75.5% | 5.3% | 80.0% |
Europe | 30.8% | 13.8% | 12.8% | 0.8% | 86.0% |
Latin America | 6.4% | 15.7% | 14.3% | 1.1% | 83.9% |
Middle East | 9.8% | 26.1% | 22.8% | 2.2% | 81.6% |
North America | 28.8% | 9.7% | 12.5% | -2.1% | 83.0% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2022 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
International Passenger Markets
Asia-Pacific airlines had a 92.6% increase in September 2023 traffic compared to September 2022, continuing to lead the regions in terms of annual improvement. Capacity climbed 82.1% and the load factor increased by 4.5 percentage points to 82.5%.
European carriers’ September traffic climbed 15.7% versus September 2022. Capacity increased 14.9%, and load factor edged up 0.6 percentage points to 85.5%.
Middle Eastern airlines saw a 26.6% increase in September traffic compared to a year ago. Capacity rose 23.7% and load factor climbed 1.9 percentage points to…