Recovery in air travel continued in December with the total 2023 traffic edging even closer to matching pre-pandemic demand. 

Total traffic in 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 36.9% compared with 2022.

Globally, for the full year 2023, traffic was at 94.1% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels.

December total traffic rose 25.3% compared with December 2022 and reached 97.5% of the December 2019 level. Fourth quarter traffic was at 98.2% of 2019, reflecting the strong recovery towards the end of the year.

International traffic in 2023 climbed 41.6% versus 2022 and reached 88.6% of 2019 levels. December international traffic climbed 24.2% over December 2022, reaching 94.7% of the level in December 2019. Fourth quarter traffic was at 94.5% of 2019.

Domestic traffic for 2023 rose 30.4% compared with the prior year. 2023 domestic traffic was 3.9% above the full year 2019 level. December domestic traffic was up 27% over the year earlier and 2.3% above December 2019 traffic. Fourth quarter traffic was 4.4% higher than the same quarter in 2019.

African airlines’ annual traffic rose 38.7% in 2023 versus the prior year. Full-year 2023 capacity was up 38.3%, and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage points to 71.9%, the lowest among regions. December traffic for African airlines rose 9.5% over December 2022.

“The strong post-pandemic rebound continued in 2023. December traffic stood just 2.5% below 2019 levels, with a strong performance in quarter 4, teeing up airlines for a return to normal growth patterns in 2024. The recovery in travel is good news. The restoration of connectivity is powering the global economy as people travel to do business, further their educations, take hard-earned vacations, and much more,” said Willie Walsh, Iata’s Director General. 

“But to maximise the benefits of air travel in the post-pandemic world, governments need to take a strategic approach. That means providing cost-efficient infrastructure to meet demand, incentivising Sustainable Aviation Fuel production to meet our net zero carbon emission goal by 2050, and adopting regulations that deliver a clear cost-benefit. Completing the recovery must not be an excuse for governments to forget the critical role of aviation to increasing the prosperity and well-being of people and businesses the world over.”