Europe aviation: Asia Pacific still a check on plateaued recovery

According to IATA, international bookings for air travel are back to 80% of 2019 levels this year in the UK, and more than 70% in Germany. These nations were Europe's biggest aviation markets before the COVID-19 pandemic, so their pace of recovery is significant to Europe as a whole.

Outside Europe, international bookings are close to 80% of 2019 levels in the US, but only 30% in Japan and 5% in China.

In capacity terms, in the week of 21-Nov-2022 Europe's seat numbers are at 84.5%, which represents a shortfall of 15.5% against the equivalent week in 2019.

This is a deterioration of 0.4ppts from last week and right at the bottom end of the narrow range of 85% to 86% of 2019 capacity that Europe's recovery has occupied for more than six months.

Europe's intercontinental capacity to most regions is recovering faster than intra-Europe, with the notable exception of Europe-Asia Pacific.