March global airline passenger demand halves amid coronavirus lockdowns: IATA

Monthly global passenger traffic for March was less than half of the year-ago figure as airlines across the world grappled with the coronavirus outbreak, the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday.

Total revenue passenger kilometers — which measures actual passenger traffic — was down 52.9% year on year in March, with the sharpest regional declines seen in the Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America.

Total RPKs in March for the Asian market fell 59.9% year on year while the European and North American markets saw declines of 51.8% and 49.8%, respectively.

"March was a disastrous month for aviation," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and CEO. "Airlines progressively felt the growing impact of the COVID-19 related border closing and restrictions on mobility."

International travel, which accounts for 63.8% of the total air travel, saw an even steeper decline in actual passenger traffic, with RPKs falling 55.8% year on year in March. The Asia-Pacific saw a staggering 65.5% decline while Europe and North America fell by 54.3% and 53.7%, respectively.

Domestic travel, accounting for 36.2% of air travel, saw a 47.8% decline in monthly RPKs on the year. The sharpest loss was seen in the domestic Chinese market, which saw a 65.5% decline. The domestic Japanese and American markets experienced declines of 55.8% and 48.1%, respectively.

"Worse, we know that the situation deteriorated even more in April and most signs point to a slow recovery," de Juniac said.