The latest aviation industry statistics for 2020 from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that Africa accounted for just 34.3 million passengers, a 65.7 drop on 2019 passenger numbers.
In a statement entitled ‘Airline industry statistics confirm 2020 was worst year on record’ the Montreal-based airlines’ association confirmed that 2020 was the worst year-on-year record, demonstrating the devastating effects on global air transport during that year of the COVID-19 crisis.
Other regional rankings based on total passengers carried on scheduled services by airlines registered in that region showed that Asia-Pacific recorded 780.7 million passengers, a decrease of 53.4 per cent compared to the region’s passengers in 2019 while North America had 401.7 million passengers, down 60.8 per cent over 2019
Others were Europe, 389.9 million passengers, down 67.4 per cent over 2019; Latin America, 123.6 million passengers, down 60.6 per cent over 2019; Middle East, 76.8 million passengers, decrease of 67.6 per cent over 2019
IATA also disclosed that the top five airlines ranked by total scheduled passenger kilometers flown, were American Airlines, 124 billion; China Southern Airlines, 110.7 billion; Delta Air Lines, 106.5 billion; United Airlines, 100.2 billion and China Eastern Airlines, 88.7 billion.
The statistics also showed the top five route areas by passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger-kilometers (RPKs), with the largest drop being seen in routes within the Far East: Within Europe, 290.3 million, down 70.7 percent from 2019; Europe – North America, 122.9 million, decreased 80.4 per cent from 2019; within Far East, 117.3 million, a decrease of 84.1 per cent from 2019; Europe – Far East, 115.3 million, a decrease of 79 per cent from 2019; and Middle East – Far East, 104 million, down 73.6 per cent from 2019.
On the whole, the association said 1.8 billion passengers flew in 2020, a decrease of 60.2 per cent compared to the 4.5 billion who flew in 2019
It also stated that RPKs dropped by 65.9 per cent year-on-year; international passenger demand (RPKs) decreased by 75.6% compared to the previous year; domestic air passenger demand (RPKs) dropped by 48.8 per cent compared to 2019
Besides, it stated that 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 per cent year-on-year in April 2020
Total industry passenger revenues fell by 69 per cent to $189 billion in 2020, and net losses were $126.4 billion in total
It disclosed that the decline in air passengers transported in 2020 was the largest recorded since global RPKs started being tracked around 1950.
The top five domestic passenger airport-pairs were all in Asia and outperformed top international routes as domestic recovery returned faster, particularly in China.
Cargo
The top five airlines ranked by scheduled cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) flown were Federal Express, 19.7 billion; United Parcel Service, 14.4 billion; Qatar Airways, 13.7 billion; Emirates, 9.6 billion and Cathay Pacific Airways, 8.1 billion.
Airline Alliances
Star Alliance maintained its position as the largest airline alliance in 2020 with 18.7 per cent of total scheduled traffic (in RPKs), followed by SkyTeam, 16.3 per cent and Oneworld (12.7 per cent.
“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,” noted IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh.
