Iata has released the latest air traffic data, which indicates that the post-COVID recovery momentum continued in June for passenger markets.

Global total traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) is now at 94.2% of pre-COVID levels. This is a 31% increase compared with June 2022.

For the first half of 2023, total traffic was up 47.2% compared with the same period last year.

Domestic traffic for June rose 27.2% compared with the same month a year ago and was 5.1% above the June 2019 results. Domestic demand was up 33.3% in the first half of 2023 compared with 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 of 2023 international traffic was up 58.6% over the first half of 2022.

African airlines’ traffic rose 34.7% in June 2023 versus a year ago, the region's second-highest percentage gain.

June capacity was up 44.8% and the load factor fell 5.1 percentage points to 68.1%, the lowest among the regions.

Africa was the only region to see a decline in the monthly international load factor compared with last year.

Willie Walsh, Iata Director General, said as strong as travel demand had been, arguably it could be even stronger.

“Demand is outrunning capacity growth. Well-documented problems in the aviation supply chain mean that many airlines have not taken delivery of all the new, more environmentally friendly aircraft they had expected. In contrast, numerous aircraft are parked awaiting critical spare parts.

“And, for the fleet in service, some air navigation service providers (ANSPs) are failing to deliver the requisite capacity and resilience to meet travel demand. Delays and trimmed schedules are frustrating for both passengers and their airlines. Governments cannot continue to ignore the accountability of ANSPs in places where passenger rights regimes place the brunt of accountability on airlines,” said Walsh.