Air passenger revenue decreases by 69% over Covid-19 — IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that air passenger revenue decreased by 69 per cent in 2020 over Covid-19 pandemic.

The organisation noted that 2020 was the worst year ever in the airline sector globally as revenue dropped by 69 per cent to $189 billion.

The IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report said the 2020 performance on global air transport was as a result of the devastating effects of the Covid-19 crisis.

“1.8 billion passengers flew in 2020, a decrease of 60.2 per cent compared to the 4.5 billion who flew in 2019.

“Industry-wide air travel demand (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers, or RPKs) dropped by 65.9 per cent year-on-year.

“Total industry passenger revenues fell by 69 per cent to $189 billion in 2020, and net losses were $126.4 billion in total.

“The decline in air passengers transported in 2020 was the largest recorded since global RPKs started being tracked around 1950,” IATA said.

The association further stated that Africa ranked third with the largest loss of passenger traffic at 68.5 per cent; airlines carried a total number of 34.3 million passengers in the continent, down by 65.7 per cent compared to 2019.

The Director-General, IATA, Mr. Willie Walsh, in the report said: “2020 was a year that we’d all like to forget. But analyzing the performance statistics for the year reveals an amazing story of perseverance.

“Many governments recognised aviation’s critical contributions and provided financial lifelines and other forms of support.

“But it was the rapid actions by airlines and the commitment of our people that saw the airline industry through the most difficult year in its history.

“The bright spot in air transport for 2020”against passenger flight due to transportation of vaccines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vital medical supplies.

“Although losses will be significantly reduced in 2021 from 2020 levels, the industry’s recovery is expected to be long and challenging”.