‘States that persist in attempting to lock-out the disease, rather than managing it…risk missing out on the enormous economic and societal benefits that a restoration of international connectivity will bring.’

IATA: Pax recovery gathers speed, air cargo growth continues
Passengers in protective overall and masks at Suvarnabhumi Airport going to check-in for repatriation flights and waving goodbye during COVID-19 outbreak. (PHOTO: Shutterstock)

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that air travel posted a strong rebound in February 2022 compared to January 2022, as Omicron-related impacts moderated outside of Asia. The war in Ukraine, which began on 24 February, did not have a major impact on traffic levels.

Singapore hopes the government’s Vaccinated Travel Lanes will bring people back to flying. A lone student waits to say goodbye to a friend in a nearly deserted departure hall. (PHOTO: Matt Driskill)

Total traffic in February 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) was up 115.9 percent compared to February 2021. That is an improvement from January 2022, which was up 83.1 percent compared to January 2021. Compared to February 2019, however, traffic was down 45.5 percent. Read more