African air travel rebounds despite operational challenges
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Passenger traffic on African airlines rose 116.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the first four months of 2022 (4M 2022) against 4M 2021, a cherry news bolstering hopes of faster and better continentwide recovery from the pandemic.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the figures translated to over 93.3 per cent in March and April numbers were up 65.7 per cent with load factor climbing 15.7 percentage points to 67.3 per cent.
As summer travel beckons, two things are clear: two years of border restrictions have not weakened the desire for the freedom to travel, IATA added, noting that demand is rapidly returning to pre-pandemic levels where travel is permitted.
But IATA Director General/Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh stressed that it is evident the failings in how governments managed the pandemic have continued into the recovery.
“With governments making U-turns and policy changes, there was uncertainty until the last minute, leaving little time to restart an industry that was largely dormant for two years. It is no wonder that we are seeing operational delays in some locations.
“In those few locations where these problems are recurring, solutions need to be found, so passengers can travel with confidence,” Walsh said.
IATA declared that international air travel is experiencing a rebound despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and significant travel restrictions in China.
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Optimism in nearly all markets
The recovery trend, Walsh said, is driven by a significant increase in global demand that was up 78.7 per cent in April 2022 versus April 2021 and slightly higher than 76.0 per cent in March 2022, per The Nation reporting.
“With the lifting of many border restrictions, we are seeing the long-expected surge in bookings as people seek to make up for two years of lost travel opportunities.
“April data is cause for optimism in almost all markets, except China, which continues to severely restrict travel.
“The experience of the rest of the world is demonstrating that increased travel is manageable with high levels of population immunity and the normal systems for disease surveillance.
“We hope that China can recognise this success soon and take its own steps towards normality.”
Domestic air travel dipped 1.0 per cent YoY in April, reversing a 10.6 per cent rise in March; driven entirely by continuing strict travel restrictions in China, where domestic traffic was down 80.8 per cent YoY, according to IATA.
Overall, April domestic traffic was down 25.8 per cent versus April 2019.
But International Revenue Per Kilometres (RPKs) rose 331.9 per cent against April 2021, and above 289.9 per cent in March 2022.
Several routes are now above pre-pandemic levels, including Europe – Central America, Middle East – North America and North America – Central America.
Other metrics
International RPKs down 43.4 per cent in in April 2022 against April 2019.
European carriers’ international traffic up 480.0 per cent in April versus April 2021, and rose 434.3 per cent in March versus March 2021.
Capacity rose 233.5 per cent and load factor 33.7 percentage points to 79.4 per cent.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw their international traffic climb 290.8 per cent compared with April 2021, significantly improving on 197.2 per cent in March 2022.
Capacity shot up 88.6 per cent and load factor 34.6 percentage points to 66.8 per cent, but it was the lowest among regions.
Middle Eastern airlines had a 265.0 per cent demand rise in April 2022 versus April 2021, better than 252.7 per cent in March 2022. Capacity rose 101.0 per cent YoY in April and load factor 32.2 percentage points to 71.7 per cent.
North American carriers’ traffic grew 230.2 per cent YoY in April, above 227.9 per cent rise in March. Capacity rose 98.5 per cent and load factor 31.6 percentage points to 79.3 per cent.
Latin American airlines had a 263.2 per cent rise YoY in April traffic, exceeding 241.2 per cent in March. Capacity gew 189.1 per cent and load factor 16.8 percentage points to 82.3 per cent, the highest among the regions for the 19th consecutive month.