IATA Reduces Air Traffic Outlook

By Dave Simpson
IATA Reduces Air Traffic Outlook

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that full-year airline passenger traffic is set to decline by 66% after previously forecasting a 63% decline.

"The improvement that we saw in the summer months has more or less stopped," IATA chief economist Brian Pearce said.

August traffic was down by 75.3% in terms that reflect passenger numbers as well as distance flown, compared with a 79.5% drop in July.

Additionally, Load factors that measure the proportion of aircraft seats filled fell 27.2 points to a record low of 58.5% in August.

"The industry is restarting but it looks as though it's still burning through cash," Pearce said.

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IATA said that losses will continue to mount throughout 2020, with bookings data pointing to a weak fourth quarter.

Cargo Demand

IATA also said that Cargo demand was down 12.6% in August, which was an improvement on July's 14.4% decline.

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