Global aviation industry sees a substantial surge this year

Monday, August 14, 2023

The global airline industry has witnessed a substantial surge in demand this year, particularly evident in the busy months of July and August. Data indicates that over a billion airline seats were scheduled during these months, reflecting a significant increase compared to the nearly 900 million seats offered during the same period last year. This surge underscores the recovery and growing demand within the aviation sector.

However, despite the boost in seat availability, this year’s figures do not constitute a record-breaking year. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, seat capacity remains 1% lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 for July and August. The most substantial seat capacity gains were observed in Asia and the US. South Korea’s seat capacity notably rose by 51% during these months, driven by an increase in departure seats. China also experienced an 18% improvement, although long-haul international demand still lags behind pre-pandemic levels.

In the US, the largest country market for airlines, seat capacity is set to increase by 10% during these months, with recovery largely taking place in the past summer due to the pandemic’s impact. However, this growth is marginal compared to 2019, with only a 1% increase. China, on the other hand, demonstrated a 10% increase, largely due to a rise in domestic flights.

Cirium’s CEO, Jeremy Bowen, pointed out impressive seat capacity performance in other regions, notably Mexico and Greece, which have witnessed a significant boost in their airline markets compared to four years ago.

While several markets experienced growth, some underperformed this year, such as Colombia, Japan, the UK, France, and Germany, where seat capacity dropped by single digits or more from 2019 levels.

Seasonal travel patterns continue to shape the industry, with the Southeast Asia market peaking in the northern winter. In regions like Brazil, the summer months of January and December record the highest activity. Despite regional variations, July and August remain busy months in global aviation, with peak travel times aligning with the calendar. As Bowen concluded, “When the calendar says July and August, it’s peak time for flying.”

Source: Cirium

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