Total traffic in June 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 31.0% compared to June 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 94.2% of pre-COVID levels. For the first half of 2023, total traffic was up 47.2% compared to the year-ago period.
Domestic traffic for June rose 27.2% compared to the same month a year ago and was 5.1% above the June 2019 results. Domestic demand was up 33.3% in the 2023 first half compared to a year ago.
International traffic climbed 33.7% versus June 2022 with all markets showing robust growth. International RPKs reached 88.2% of June 2019 levels. First half 2023 international traffic was up 58.6% over the first half of 2022.
"The northern summer travel season got off to a strong start in June with double-digit demand growth and average load factors topping 84%. Planes are full which is good news for airlines, local economies, and travel and tourism dependent jobs. All benefit from the industry's ongoing recovery," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
Air Passenger Market in Detail
JUNE 2023 (%YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE *1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (%PT) *2 | PLF (LEVEL) *3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Market
|
100%
|
31.0%
|
28.8%
|
1.4%
|
84.2%
|
Africa
|
2.1%
|
31.8%
|
40.5%
|
-4.6%
|
68.9%
|
Asia Pacific
|
22.1%
|
90.1%
|
73..3%
|
7.1%
|
80.4%
|
Europe
|
30.8%
|
13.0%
|
11.5%
|
1.2%
|
87.7%
|
Latin America
|
6.4%
|
18.7%
|
17.1%
|
1.1%
|
82.5%
|
Middle East
|
9.8%
|
28.3%
|
24.5%
|
2.4%
|
79.4%
|
North America
|
28.8%
|
12.9%
|
13.8%
|
-0.7%
|
88.7%
|
(*1) % of industry RPKs in 2022 (*2) Change in load factor (*3) Load factor level
European carriers posted a 14.0% traffic rise versus June 2022. Capacity rose 12.6%, and load factor climbed 1.1 percentage points to 87.8%, which was the second highest among the regions.
Middle Eastern airlines' June traffic climbed 29.2% compared to June last year. Capacity rose 25.9% and load factor improved 2.0 percentage points to 79.8%.
North American carriers saw traffic climb 23.3% in June 2023 versus the 2022 period. Capacity increased 19.5%, and load factor rose 2.7 percentage points to 90.2%, which was the highest among the regions.
Latin American airlines had a 25.8% traffic increase compared to the same month in 2022. June capacity climbed 25.0% and load factor rose 0.6 percentage points to 84.8%.
African airlines' traffic rose 34.7% in June 2023 versus a year ago, the second highest percentage gain among the regions. June capacity was up 44.8% and load factor fell 5.1 percentage points to 68.1%, lowest among the regions. Africa was the only region to see a decline in the monthly international load factor compared to the year ago period.
JUNE 2023 (%YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE *1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (%PT) *2 | PLF (LEVEL) *3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic
|
42.0%
|
27.2%
|
24.7%
|
1.6%
|
82.9%
|
Dom. Australia
|
1.0%
|
-1.7%
|
1.7%
|
-2.8%
|
79.4%
|
Dom. Brazil
|
1.5%
|
13.3%
|
8.2%
|
3.5%
|
78.9%
|
Dom. China P.R.
|
6.4%
|
129.6%
|
95.7%
|
11.4%
|
77.2%
|
Dom. India
|
2.0%
|
14.8%
|
0.8%
|
10.9%
|
89.9%
|
Dom. Japan
|
1.2%
|
33.8%
|
6.3%
|
15.1%
|
73.4%
|
Dom. USA
|
19.2%
|
8.0%
|
11.2%
|
-2.6%
|
87.8%
|
(*1) % of industry RPKs in 2022 (*2) Change in load factor (*3) Load factor level
Australia's domestic traffic slipped 1.7% in June compared to a year ago. It was the only domestic market to see a year-over-year traffic decline in June, although traffic remained 3.9% above pre-pandemic levels.
Indian airlines' domestic demand climbed 14.8% in June and was 1.3% above the June 2019 level.
JUNE 2023 (% CH VS SAME MONTH IN 2019) | WORLD SHARE1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-PT)2 | PLF (LEVEL)?3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Market
|
100.0%
|
-5.8%
|
-5.5%
|
-0.2%
|
84.2%
|
International
|
58.0%
|
-11.8%
|
-13.2%
|
1.4%
|
85.0%
|
Domestic
|
42.0%
|
5.1%
|
8.7%
|
-2.8%
|
82.9%
|
1) % of industry RPKs in 2022 2) year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level