Global air passenger demand recovery, which had been slowing since the Northern hemisphere’s summer travel season, came to a halt in November 2020, according to a release by IATA.
Total demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 70.3% compared to November 2019, virtually unchanged from the 70.6% year-to-year (YoY) decline recorded in October. November capacity was 58.6% below previous year levels.
International passenger demand in November was 88.3% below the previous year, slightly worse than the 87.6% YoY decline recorded in October. Capacity fell 77.4% below previous year levels. Europe was the main driver of the weakness as new lockdowns weighed on travel demand.
Recovery in domestic demand, which had been the relative bright spot, also stalled, with November domestic traffic down 41.0% compared to the prior year (it stood at 41.1% below the previous year’s level in October). Capacity was 27.1% down on 2019 levels.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO, said: “The already tepid recovery in air travel demand came to a full stop in November. That’s because governments responded to new outbreaks with even more severe travel restrictions and quarantine measures.
“This is clearly inefficient. Such measures increase hardship for millions. Vaccines offer the long-term solution. In the meantime, testing is the best way that we see to stop the spread of the virus and start the economic recovery. How much more anguish do people need to go through – job losses, mental stress – before governments will understand that?”
Asia-Pacific airlines’ November traffic plunged 95.0% compared to the year-ago period, which was barely changed from the 95.3% decline in October. The region continued to suffer from the steepest traffic declines for a fifth consecutive month, with capacity dropping 87.4%.
European carriers saw an 87.0% decline in traffic in November versus a year ago, worsened from an 83% decline in October; while capacity withered 76.5%.
Middle Eastern airlines’ demand plummeted 86.0% in November year-to-year, which was improved from an 86.9% demand drop in October; while capacity fell 71.0%.
North American carriers had an 83.0% traffic drop in November, versus an 87.8% decline in October; while capacity dived 66.1%.
Latin American airlines experienced a 78.6% demand drop in November, compared to the same month last year, improved from an 86.1% decline in October year-to-year. This was the strongest improvement of any region. November capacity was 72.0% down, with routes to/from Central America emerging as the most resilient as governments reduced travel restrictions, especially quarantine requirements.
African airlines’ traffic sank 76.7% in November, little changed from a 77.2% drop in October, but the best performance among the regions. Meanwhile, capacity contracted 63.7%.
In domestic passenger markets, Australia’s domestic traffic was down 79.8% in November compared to the same month a year ago, improved from an 84.4% decline in October, as certain states opened up. But it continued to significantly lag other domestic markets.
India’s domestic traffic fell 49.6% in November, an improvement over a 55.6% decline in October, with greater improvement expected as more businesses reopen.
