ICAO: COVID-19 took global passenger traffic back to 2003 levels

ICAO reported (04-Mar-2021) elevated COVID-19 cases and the resulting travel restrictions continued to weigh on air travel in Dec-2020. Subsequent to the initial rebound from the lowest point in Apr-2020 throughout the northern hemisphere summer, passenger traffic recovery has stalled with several months of moderate improvements. For 2020 as whole, passengers numbers were down 60% year-on-year to 1.8 billion, sending aviation back to 2003 levels. China domestic traffic "demonstrated the swiftest recovery among all markets", according to ICAO. [more - original PR]