Omicron restrictions, travel protocols stall air travel recovery

THE International Air Transport Association ( IATA), yesterday, said the outbreak of Omicron variant, attendant border closures and other protocols stalled the industry recovery erstwhile recorded.

The body, which represents over 290 airlines globally, noted that as of November, international demand sustained its steady upward trend as more markets reopened.

In the November factsheet released yesterday, the total demand for air travel in November 2021 ( measured in revenue passenger- kilometers or RPKS) was down 47.0 per cent compared to November 2019. This marked an uptick compared to October’s 48.9 per cent contraction from October 2019.

International passenger demand in November was 60.5 per cent below November 2019, bettering the 64.8 per cent decline recorded in October.

IATA’S Director General, Willie Walsh, noted that the recovery in air traffic continued in November until “governments over- reacted to the emergence of the Omicron variant at the close of the month and resorted to the tried- and- failed methods of border closures, excessive testing of travellers and quarantine to slow the spread.”

“International ticket sales, he said, not surprisingly made in December and early

January fell sharply compared to 2019, suggesting a more difficult first quarter than had been expected.

“If the experience of the last

22 months has shown anything, it is that there is little to no correlation between the introduction of travel restrictions and preventing transmission of the viru s across borders.

“And these measures place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. If experience is the best teacher, let us hope that governments pay more attention as we begin the

New Year,” Walsh said.

In the regional performances, African airlines’ traffic fell

56.8 per cent in November versus two years’ ago, improving over the 59.8 per cent decline in October compared to October 2019.

November capacity was down 49.6 per cent and load factor declined 10.1 percentage points to 60.3 per cent.

European carriers’

November international traffic declined 43.7 per cent versus November 2019, much improved compared to the

49.4 per cent per cent decrease in October versus the same month in 2019.

Capacity dropped 36.3 per cent and load factor fell 9.7 percentage points to 74.3 per cent.