Summary
- The US maintains the top spot in the domestic aviation market, followed closely by China.
- Domestic demand increased 4.0% in April 2023, showing rising capacity utilization.
- The IATA Passenger Survey revealed an 88% positive sentiment towards the impact of air travel.
After 2024’s IATA Annual General Meeting in Dubai, the international aviation agency released its annual report on air traffic in 2023.
What do the figures look like?
Over the past year, the United States of America has maintained its position as the world’s leading domestic aviation market, with 15,4% of the total worldwide domestic market. Not far behind the US was the People’s Republic of China with an impressive 11,2%
In April 2023, domestic demand increased by 4.0% compared to the previous year. At the same time, capacity rose by 2.1% year over year, leading to a load factor of 82.6%. This indicates a significant increase in demand and capacity utilization compared to April 2022.
This is what Willie Walsh, the Director General of IATA, had to say,
“Passenger demand has been growing for 36 consecutive months. As we enter the peak northern summer travel season, there is every reason to feel optimistic for a strong summer, with airlines offering a wide range of travel options. 97% of passengers in our recent survey said they were satisfied with their last flight. Every part of the travel value chain needs to be focused on maintaining that”.
According to the results of the IATA Passenger Survey, an overwhelming majority of 88% of respondents conveyed a positive sentiment regarding the influence of air travel on their lives.
Walsh further commented.
“That’s an important motivation as our members gather for the IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai next week. This strong endorsement of the power of air connectivity to transform lives and boost economies brings with it a challenge that will also be on the minds of all attending. It is critically important that we achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 so that people can continue to rely on all the benefits of air travel.”
Aviation goes international again.
During the annual general meeting in 2023, the aviation industry had the chance to reflect on a year marked by significant recovery and exciting developments. Notably, Air Tahiti Nui unveiled plans for a new international route linking Paris to Papeete via Seattle, providing travelers with a convenient and innovative travel option. In a surprising move, China Southern launched a new road connecting Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Luxembourg in late December 2023, further expanding global connectivity. These announcements demonstrated the industry’s resilience and commitment to meeting evolving travel demands.
Data from IATA’s passenger report reinforces this; in the past year, international flights represented around 60% of the total movements logged.
Related
China Southern Airlines Starts Flights On Twice-Weekly London Gatwick-Zhengzhou Route
China Southern is gradually resuming and strengthening its international flight network.
Bottom Line
Not only does aviation perform well in domestic sectors like the USA or the PRC, but international travel has seen a healthy recovery.
With more new routes coming throughout the year and the prospect of Project Sunrise just over the horizon, we can remain cautiously optimistic about a total rebound of our industry in the next 365 years.
What do you think of this year’s statistics? Let us know in the comments.