KUALA LUMPUR: Global air travel demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs, saw a declined of 53.4% in September 2021 compared with the same month of 2019, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

       However, the performance was a moderate rebound from August 2021, which was 56% lower when compared with August 2019, it said in a statement.

       “This was driven by recovery in domestic markets, in particular China, where some travel curbs were lifted following the Covid-19 outbreaks in August.

       “International demand, meanwhile, slipped slightly compared with the previous month,” it said.

       Director-general Willie Walsh said that September’s performance is a positive development but recovery in international traffic remains stalled amid continuing border closures and quarantine mandates.

       “The recent US policy change to reopen travel from 33 markets for fully vaccinated foreigners from Nov 8 is a welcome, if long overdue, development. Along with recent reopenings in other key markets like Australia, Argentina, Thailand and Singapore, this should give a boost to the large-scale restoration of the freedom to travel,” he said.

       On the Asia-Pacific front, IATA said the region’s airlines saw their September international traffic fall 93.2% compared with September 2019, virtually unchanged from the 93.4% drop registered in August 2021 versus August 2019 as the region continues to have the strictest border control measures.

       “Capacity dropped 85.2% and the load factor was down 42.3 percentage points to 36.2%, easily the lowest among regions,” it said.

       Meanwhile in a separate statement, IATA said global air cargo demand grew 9.1% in September 2021 compared with the same month in 2019, as there is a benefit from supply chain congestion as manufacturers turn to air transport for speed.

       Walsh said, however, severe capacity constraints continue to limit the ability of air cargo to absorb extra demand.

       “If not addressed, bottlenecks in the supply chain will slow the economic recovery from Covid-19.Governments must act to relieve pressure on global supply chains and improve their overall resilience,” he said.

       For the Asia-Pacific, IATA said the region’s airlines saw their international air cargo volumes increase 4.5% in September 2021 compared with the same month in 2019, which was a slowdown compared to the previous month’s 5.1% expansion.

       “Demand is being affected by slowing manufacturing activity in China. International capacity is significantly constrained in the region, down 18.2% versus September 2019,” it said. — Bernama