L  L  News & Industry Affairs / IATA

  L      IATA News

Spotlight 2023

Spotlight 2022 

News 2022

  L  IATA forecasts global airline industry will return to profit in 2023
December 6, 2022. FlightGlobal.

The global airline industry is forecast to achieve a net profit of $4.7 billion in 2023 as the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis continues, according to IATA. That would mark the industry’s first positive result since the pandemic hit in 2020, with airlines on course for a loss of $6.9 b in 2022. Releasing its latest forecast on 6 December, the IATA says the North America region – which it says will already be profitable in 2022 – will be the main driver of the profitability next year. Read more...

  L  IATA Regional Vice-President AME addresses AASA's AGA on resilience and growth in these uncertain times 
October 14, 2022. IATA AME News.

Kamil Al-Awadhi IATA, Regional Vice-President AME addressed the AASA AGA on resilience and growth in these uncertain times. He identified key priorities for Southern Africa going forward including: Connectivity and Regulatory Reform; Planning and Preparedness; Environmental Sustainability; Taxes; Charges and Costs; and Safety. Read more...  

News 2023

  L  September 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published November 9, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Strong passenger growth          
African airlines traffic up 28.1% YoY 

African airlines posted a 28.1% traffic increase in September 2023 versus a year ago. Capacity was up 29.9% and load factor slipped 1.0 percentage points to 72.6%. The third quarter of 2023 reported strong post-pandemic international passenger traffic with record domestic passenger demand. Read more...  

  L  September 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published November 7, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand up   
Strong growth in the Africa-Asia trade lane

African airlines saw their air cargo volumes decline by 0.1% in September 2023, despite the strong growth of demand on the Africa-Asia trade lane (+12.8%). This was an improvement in performance compared to August (-3.5%). Capacity was 2.7% above September 2022 levels. Read more...

  L  August 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published October 4, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Passenger recovery at 95.7%          
African airlines seat capacity up 25.6% YoY 

African airlines saw 26.1% YoY growth in international RPKs in August. Traffic levels are still approaching full recovery, maintaining their upward trends observed since earlier this year. August capacity was up 25.5 % and load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 76.2 %. Read more...  

  L  August 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published October 3, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand increases YoY   
African airlines report weak performance in August  

African airlines had the weakest performance in August 2023, with a 4.7% decline in cargo volumes compared to August 2022. This was a significant decrease in performance compared to July (+2.3%). Notably, Africa–Asia routes declined by 1.1% in August following an 11.2% growth in July. Capacity was 3.8% above August 2022 levels. Read more...

  L  July 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published September 6, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Passenger recovery on track         
African airlines seat capacity up 25.6% YoY

African airlines saw a 25.6% traffic increase in July 2023 versus a year ago, the second highest percentage gain among the regions. July capacity was up 27.4% and load factor fell 1.0 percentage point to 73.9%, the lowest among the regions. For a second month in a row, Africa was the only region to see capacity growth outrun traffic demand. Read more...  

  L  July 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published September 5, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand stable   
African airlines report strong growth in cargo volumes 

African airlines had the strongest performance in July 2023 with a 2.9% increase in cargo volumes - capacity was 11.0% above July 2022 levels. The Africa-Asia routes experienced significant cargo demand growth returning to double-digit growth of 10.3% YoY from -4.8% in June. Read more...

  L  June 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published August 8, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Solid traffic growth 
African airlines' passenger traffic improves

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. Load factors for airlines in Africa improved from the previous month, but they continued to be the lowest across all regions. Read more...  

  L  June 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published August 7, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand weakens         
African airline cargo volumes contracted by 2.4% in May   

International CTKs for African airlines contracted from -1.4% YoY in April to -2.4% in May. Though CTK’s on the Africa-Asia trade lane increased in May, their growth slowed significantly from 18.5% in April to 11.0% YoY in May, possibly due to the impact of the conflict in Sudan since April. Read more...

  L  May 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published July 5, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Solid traffic growth 
African airlines' passenger traffic improves

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. Load factors for airlines in Africa improved from the previous month, but they continued to be the lowest across all regions. Read more...  

  L  May 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published July 5, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand weakens         
African airline cargo volumes contracted by 2.4% in May   

International CTKs for African airlines contracted from -1.4% YoY in April to -2.4% in May. Though CTK’s on the Africa-Asia trade lane increased in May, their growth slowed significantly from 18.5% in April to 11.0% YoY in May, possibly due to the impact of the conflict in Sudan since April. Read more... 

  L  April 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published June 1, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Strong passenger demand continues
African airlines' passenger traffic rose 53.5% in April

African airlines’ traffic rose 53.5% in April 2023 versus a year ago, the second highest among the regions. April capacity was up 50.0% and load factor climbed 1.6 percentage points to 69.8%, the lowest among the regions. Read more...  

  L  April 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published May 31, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Cargo traffic decline slows
African airline cargo volumes increased 20% on the Africa-Asia trade lane  

African airlines made the only positive contribution to the YoY change in industry-wide CTKs among the various regions and showed improvements in their international cargo performance compared to the previous month's YoY change. This trend was supported by the notable 20.0% annual increase in cargo demand on the Africa-Asia trade lane. The remarkable performance in this route area reflects the strengthening trade relationship between Africa and Asia, particularly the commercial ties between China and African countries. Read more... 

  L  IATA Focus Africa Conference to strengthen aviation’s contribution to African development
May 15, 2023. ARGS Bews,

“Over the next 15 years, Africa’s passenger traffic is expected to double.” Willie Walsh, IATA’s DG

IATA has announced the Focus Africa Conference will cover six priorities under IATA’s Focus Africa to strengthen aviation’s contribution to the continent’s economic and social development, and improve connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers.
   The Conference is being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 20-21 June 2023. Read more...  

  L  March 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published May 4, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Solid growth in passenger numbers
African airlines' passenger traffic rose 71.7% in March

African airlines’ traffic rose 71.7% in March 2023 versus a year ago, the second highest among the regions. March capacity was up 56.2% and load factor climbed 6.5 percentage points to 72.2%, lowest among the regions. Read more...  

  L  March 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published May 4, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand decreases
African airline cargo volumes decrease by 6.2% YoY  

African airlines registered a decline of 6.2% in March, which was an improvement over the 7.4% YoY fall recorded in February. IATA reports significant cargo demand growth on African-Asian routes in March. The global economy continued to decelerate, due to tightening global financial conditions, high levels of debt, and supply chain problems. Read more...   

  L  February 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published April 6, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Passenger growth continues
African airlines' passenger traffic rose 90.7% in February

African airlines’ traffic rose 90.7% in February 2023 versus a year ago. February capacity was up 61.7% and load factor climbed 11.4 percentage points to 75.0%. Although the African airline sector is lagging a bit behind the global industry, its post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery is nearly complete. Read more...  

  L  February 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published April 6, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Cargo demand stable
African airline cargo volumes decrease by 3.4% YoY with Africa-to-Asia route increasing by 39.5% YoY

African airlines saw cargo volumes decrease by 3.4% in February 2023 compared to February 2022. This was an improvement in performance compared to the previous month (-9.5%). Notably, the Africa to Asia route area experienced significant cargo demand growth in February, up 39.5% year-on-year. Capacity was 4.7% above February 2022 levels. Read more...   

  L  IATA releases 2022 Airline Safety Report 
Published March 8, 2023. IATA News.

IATA’s 2022 Safety Report for global aviation has been published in an interactive format. Safety is the highest priority. In support of that priority, IATA partners with other aviation safety stakeholders to implement programmes focused on identifying and controlling operational risks, using a data-driven approach and data analysis. Read more...  

  L  January 2023 Air Passenger Market Analysis
Published March 8, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Strong passenger demand
African airlines' passenger traffic up 124.8% % YoY

Recovery in air travel demand continues to rise in early 2023 with African airlines achieving 124.8% YoY growth in international RPKs (traffic levels only 12.8% under those of January 2019). January capacity was up 82.5% and load factor climbed 13.9 percentage points to 73.7%, the lowest among regions.  Read more...  

  L  January 2023 Air Freight Market Analysis 
Published March 6, 2023. IATA Economic Reports.

Air cargo demand falls
African airline cargo volumes decrease by 9.5% YoY

African airlines saw cargo volumes decrease by 9.5% in January 2023 compared to January 2022. This was an improvement in performance compared to the previous month (-10%). Capacity was 1.8% below January 2022 levels, but demand for the region’s airlines remained 9.7% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Read more...