Air traffic reached 68.5% of its pre-pandemic level in 2022

Global air traffic reached 68.5% of its pre-Covid-19 pandemic level in 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced Monday.

In 2023, it is expected to return to 85.5% of the pre-pandemic level that caused multiple movement restrictions worldwide.

Domestic routes returned to 79.6% of their 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, according to the body that groups 300 airlines, representing 83% of global traffic.

→ Colombia mobilized more than 48 million passengers by air in 2022

International traffic, which had been the most affected, multiplied by 2.5 in 2022 and reached 62.2% of its 2019 level.

According to Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, “the industry left 2022 in a much better situation than it entered, as most governments lifted covid-19 travel restrictions during the year and people took advantage of the restoration of their freedom to travel.”

“This dynamic is likely to continue in the new year despite the overreaction of some governments to China’s reopening,” Walsh said.

Many countries have imposed covid tests on travelers from China, where there was a major epidemic spike after restrictions were lifted, a practice IATA called “impulsive” and “ineffective.” AFP