São Paulo – The global airline industry is beginning to see its results improve with the amelioration of the COVID-19 pandemic; even so, it expects to suffer losses of USD 201 billion from 2020 to 2022. The information was published this Monday (4) on the Saudi newspaper Arab News website, based on a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Losses are expected to reach USD 11.6 billion next year, after USD 51.8 billion in losses in 2021. This year, passenger demand is expected at 40% of the total registered in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Next year, demand is projected at 61% of pre-pandemic levels.
The IATA expects the number of airline passengers to rise to 3.4 billion in 2022, after 2.3 billion people transported in 2021. Despite the growth, the figure is still well below the 4.5 billion passengers who used airline transport in 2019. According to the association, domestic travel will come closer to pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
Demand for air cargo is expected to remain robust, with 2021 recording 7.9% higher demand than 2019. Next year, the IATA expects air cargo transport to grow 13.2% compared to 2019. In the association’s assessment, the air cargo business is performing well.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
