By Bev Fearis, published 2/09/20
Latest figures from IATA show a slight improvement in demand although the aviation body warned the industry “remains largely paralysed”.
Passenger demand in July, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, was 79.8% down on July 2019 levels but better than the 86.6% year-on-year decline recorded in June.
IATA said the improvement was primarily driven by domestic markets, most notably Russia and China.
Market reopening in the Schengen Area helped to boost international demand in Europe, but other international markets showed little change from June, it added.
Capacity was 70.1% below 2019 levels and load factor dropped to a record low for July at 57.9%.
Based on just international air travel, passenger demand collapsed 91.9% compared to July 2019, a slight improvement over the 96.8% decline recorded in June.
Capacity plummeted 85.2%, and load factor fell 38.9 percentage points to 46.4%.
“The crisis in demand continued with little respite in July. With essentially four in five air travellers staying home, the industry remains largely paralysed,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
“Governments reopening and then closing borders or removing and then re-imposing quarantines does not give many consumers confidence to make travel plans, nor airlines to rebuild schedules.”
