Search DubaiPRNetwork.com

Dubai and UAE
Home >> Travel, Tourism, Airline and Hotel

Airline Industry Statistics Confirm 2020 Was Worst Year on Record

Monday, January 31, 2022/ Editor -  

Share

Home >> Travel, Tourism, Airline and Hotel
04 August 2021:  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the IATA World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) publication with performance figures for 2020 demonstrating the devastating effects on global air transport during that year of the COVID-19 crisis:
 
• 1.8 billion passengers flew in 2020, a decrease of 60.2% 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% year-on-year
• International passenger demand (RPKs) decreased by 75.6% compared to the year prior
• Domestic air passenger demand (RPKs) dropped by 48.8% compared to 2019
• Air connectivity declined by more than half in 2020 with the number of routes connecting airports falling dramatically at the outset of the crisis and was down more than 60% year-on-year in April 2020
• Total industry passenger revenues fell by 69% 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
“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. At the depth of the crisis in April 2020, 66% of the world’s commercial air transport fleet was grounded as governments closed borders or imposed strict quarantines. A million jobs disappeared. And industry losses for the year totaled $126 billion. Many governments recognized 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,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 
 
Key 2020 airline performance figures from WATS:
Passenger
• Systemwide, airlines carried 1.8 billion passengers on scheduled services, a decrease of 60.2% over 2019
• On average, there was a $71.7 loss incurred per passenger in 2020, corresponding to net losses of $126.4 billion in total
• Measured in ASKs (available seat kilometers), global airline capacity plummeted by 56.7%, with international capacity being hit the hardest with a reduction of 68.3%
• Systemwide passenger load factor dropped to 65.1% in 2020, compared to 82.5% the year prior
• The Middle East region suffered the largest proportion of loss for passenger traffic* with a drop of 71.5% in RPKs versus 2019, followed by Europe (-69.7%) and the Africa region (-68.5%)
• China became the largest domestic market in 2020 for the first time on record, as air travel rebounded faster in their domestic market following their efforts to control COVID-19
• The regional rankings (based on total passengers carried on scheduled services by airlines registered in that region) are:
1.      Asia-Pacific: 780.7 million passengers, a decrease of 53.4% compared to the region's passengers in 2019
2.      North America: 401.7 million passengers, down 60.8% over 2019
3.      Europe: 389.9 million passengers, down 67.4% over 2019
4.      Latin America: 123.6 million passengers, down 60.6% over 2019
5.      Middle East: 76.8 million passengers, a decrease of 67.6% over 2019
6.      Africa: 34.3 million passengers, down 65.7% over 2019
 
• The top five airlines ranked by total scheduled passenger kilometers flown, were:
1.      American Airlines                      (124 billion)
2.      China Southern Airlines              (110.7 billion)
3.      Delta Air Lines                           (106.5 billion)
4.      United Airlines                           (100.2 billion)
5.      China Eastern Airlines                (88.7 billion)
 
• The top five route areas** by passenger demand (RPKs), with the largest drop being seen in routes within the Far East:
1.      Within Europe                                (290.3 million, down 70.7% from 2019)
2.      Europe - North America                  (122.9 million, decreased 80.4% from 2019)
3.      Within Far East                               (117.3 million, a decrease of 84.1% from 2019)
4.      Europe - Far East                            (115.3 million, a decrease of 79% from 2019)
5.      Middle East - Far East                     (104 million, down 73.6% from 2019)
 
• The top five domestic passenger airport-pairs were all in Asia and outperformed top international routes as domestic recovery returned faster, particularly in China:
1.      Jeju - Seoul Gimpo                          (10.2 million, up 35.1% over 2019)
2.      Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City                           (5.9 million, an increase of 54.3% from 2019)
3.      Shanghai-Hongqiao – Shenzhen                  (3.7 million, up 43.4% from 2019)
4.      Beijing-Capital - Shanghai-Hongqiao           (3.6 million, increased by 11.8% from 2019)
5.      Guangzhou - Shanghai-Hongqiao    (3.5 million, up 41.2% from 2019)
• The top five nationalities*** traveling by air (international) were:
o   United States                      (45.7 million, or 9.7% of all passengers)
o   United Kingdom                 (40.8 million, or 8.6% of all passengers)
o   Germany                             (30.8 million, or 6.5% of all passengers)
o   France                                 (23.3 million, or 4.9% of all passengers)
o   India                                    (17.4 million, or 3.7% of all passengers)
 
Cargo
 
• Air freight was the bright spot in air transport for 2020, as the market adapted to keep goods moving—including vaccines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vital medical supplies—despite the massive drop in capacity from the bellies of passenger aircraft. 
o Industry-wide available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs) fell 21.4% year-on-year in 2020
o This led to a capacity crunch, with the industry-wide cargo load factor up 7.0 percentage points to 53.8%. This is the highest value in the IATA series started in 1990.
 
o At the end of the year, industry-wide cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) had returned close to pre-crisis values. However, the yearly decline in cargo demand (CTKs) was still the largest since the Global Financial Crisis in 2009, at a sizeable 9.7% year-on-year in 2020.
• The top five airlines ranked by scheduled cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) flown were: 
o Federal Express                         (19.7 billion)
o United Parcel Service    (14.4 billion)
o Qatar Airways               (13.7 billion)
o Emirates                                   (9.6 billion)
o Cathay Pacific Airways (8.1 billion)
Airline Alliances
• Star Alliance maintained its position as the largest airline alliance in 2020 with 18.7% of total scheduled traffic (in RPKs), followed by SkyTeam (16.3%) and oneworld (12.7%)

Previous in Travel, Tourism, Airline and Hotel

Next in Travel, Tourism, Airline and Hotel


Home >> Travel, Tourism, Airline and Hotel Section

Latest Press Release

Statement by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on ...

Al Hilal and Fohood Zabeel triumph in Nad Al Sheba Sports volleyball

Dubai Islamic Bank Shareholders Approve 45% Dividend for 2024

Abrahamic Family House honours winners of Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque Quran C ...

Al Owais: Emirati Children's Day reaffirms UAE's commitment to human development ...

‘Generation Readiness' Exhibition to Enhance Community Preparedness for Crises a ...

Ignite Energy Access to establish global headquarters in Abu Dhabi

The DFSA appoints Alan Linning as Managing Director, Enforcement

In the presence of His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Ec ...

US relief rally struggles to gain traction despite softer CPI

DAE Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire 17 Aircraft for US$1.0 Billion

Media Rotana and Dubai Police, in Partnership with the Emirates Red Crescent an ...

Covered 14 car dealerships RTA conducts comprehensive inspection campaign on Car ...

With Medical Support from the Dubai Health Authority and Within an Integrated Sy ...

Irish Innovation Fuels Dubai's St. Patrick's Day Festivities

Emirates Driving Company PJSC Announces Cash Dividend Distribution to Shareholde ...

Under the theme " Prepared Generation, Safer Future" ‘Generation Read ...

Celebrate Eid Al Fitr with Shop & Win Rewards and Get a Chance to Win AED 200,00 ...

Panasonic Unveils Matcha Sakura Range of 2-in-1 Hair Straighteners

Sustainable Weight Loss Takes Center Stage at RAK Hospital's Expert Session