The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that total demand, measured in passenger-kilometers paid (RPK), increased by 16.6% in January 2024; total capacity, measured in available seat-kilometers (ASK) increased by 14.1%; and the occupancy factor was 79.9%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points.
International demand increased by 20.8%; capacity increased by 20.9% and the occupancy factor remained at 79.7%.
While domestic demand increased by 10.4%; capacity increased by 4.6% and the occupancy factor was 80.2% (+4.2 percentage points).
“2024 is off to a good start despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. As governments look to generate prosperity in their economies in the busiest election year in history, it is critical that they see aviation as a catalyst for growth. Increased taxes and burdensome regulations are a counterbalance to prosperity. We will be looking for government policies that help aviation reduce costs, improve efficiency and move towards zero net CO2 emissions by 2050,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
Asia-Pacific airlines on the rise
By region, Asia-Pacific airlines experienced a 45.4% increase in January 2024 traffic compared to January 2023, continuing the region’s rapid recovery following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
The exceptionally strong growth rate can be largely attributed to China, which was in the early stages of the lifting of travel restrictions by COVID-19 in January 2023.
Latin American airlines increased their traffic by 17.9% compared to the same month in 2023. January capacity increased by 13.2%, which raised the occupancy factor 3.4 percentage points to 86%, the highest among the regions.
European carrier traffic in January 2024 increased 10.8% compared to January 2023. Capacity increased by 10.7% and the occupancy factor increased 0.1 percentage points to 77.3%. Routes between Europe and North America have recovered particularly strongly from the pandemic and are 6.5% higher than in January 2020.
North American operators had a 12.3% increase in traffic in January 2024 compared to the 2023 period. Capacity also increased 13.7% and the occupancy factor fell 1.0 percentage point to 79.4%.
Source: Arecoa.com
