The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its May 2023 traffic data, indicating a continued robust growth in air travel demand. Total global traffic for May 2023, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), experienced a significant rise of 39.1% compared to May 2022. Moreover, global traffic has now reached 96.1% of the levels seen in May 2019, before the pandemic.
Domestic traffic in May 2023 surged by 36.4% compared to the same period the previous year. Furthermore, May's domestic traffic exceeded May 2019 levels by 5.3%, marking the second consecutive month of surpassing pre-pandemic figures.
International traffic exhibited a notable growth of 40.9% compared to May 2022, with all markets witnessing strong performance, particularly carriers in the Asia-Pacific region. International RPKs have reached 90.8% of May 2019 levels, and Middle East and North American airlines have even exceeded their pre-pandemic levels.
The overall industry load factor rose to 81.8%, with North American carriers leading the way at 86.3%.
Willie Walsh, the Director General of IATA, expressed optimism about the positive developments in May, stating, “We observed further positive developments in May. Flights were operating at high capacity, with the average load factors reaching 81.8%. Domestic markets showed growth surpassing pre-pandemic levels. As we enter the busy summer travel season in the Northern Hemisphere, international demand has reached 90.8% of pre-pandemic levels.”
Asia-Pacific airlines had a 156.7% increase in May 2023 traffic compared to May 2022, maintaining the very positive momentum since the lifting of the remaining travel restrictions in the region earlier this year. Capacity rose 136.1% and the load factor increased 6.4 percentage points to 80.0%.
European carriers posted a 19.8% traffic rise versus May 2022. Capacity climbed 14.2%, and the load factor rose 3.9 percentage points to 84.4%.
Middle Eastern airlines saw a 30.8% traffic increase compared to May a year ago. Capacity climbed 25.0% and the load factor pushed up 3.6 percentage points to 80.2%. The region is leading the recovery with May traffic at 17.2% above 2019 levels.
North American carriers' traffic climbed 31.0% in May 2023 versus the 2022 period. Capacity increased 23.2%, and the load factor rose 5.1 percentage points to 85.1%, highest among the regions.
Latin American airlines had a 26.3% traffic increase compared to the same month in 2022. May capacity climbed faster– up 27.3% — and the load factor slipped 0.7 percentage points to 83.8%. The region was the only one to see capacity growth exceed traffic growth for the month.
African airlines' traffic rose 45.2% in May 2023 versus a year ago. May capacity was up 44.2% and the load factor edged up 0.5 percentage points to 68.8%, the lowest among the regions.
