IATA: global load factors increase to 2019 levels

Montreal : The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that global load factors have increased to pre-pandemic levels.

This is a positive news for the aviation industry as a whole, with the focus now being on how it can be converted into post-pandemic growth all-round.

As per data from IATA, domestic traffic rose 36.4 per cent compared to the same period last year and was 5.3 per cent above the May 2019 level.

This is also the second month in a row that domestic traffic has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

International traffic has climbed 40.9 per cent compared to May 2022 and has been mainly down to the increase in capacity offerings by carriers in Asia Pacific.

On the occasion, Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, commented, "We saw more good news in May. Planes were full, with the average load factors reaching 81.8 per cent. Domestic markets reported growth on pre-pandemic levels."

"And, heading into the busy Northern summer travel season, international demand reached 90.8 per cent of pre-pandemic levels," he added.

Overall, this is strong news for the aviation industry, with things expecting to improve month-on-month as we now come further out of the Covid-19 pandemic.