International traffic propels air passenger recovery; China concerns, while Latin America goes crazy

Latest air traffic data from the airline body International Air Transport Association (IATA) illustrates that air travel resumed its strong passenger recovery trend in Apr-2022, despite the war in Ukraine and travel restrictions in China.

The Apr-2022 data is "cause for optimism in almost all markets", acknowledges IATA director general Willie Walsh, except in China, which continues to restrict travel severely.

But air cargo statistics do not make for good reading, and often that means those for passengers will soon follow suit.

The Apr-2022 statistics that show cargo volume falls in each of the six world regions, load factor falls in five, and capacity falls in four of them, will hopefully turn out to be a blip.