Air passenger travel approaching pre-pandemic levels

Copa Airlines is part of the march toward passenger levels prior to the covid-19 pandemic  as the  International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that global passenger traffic grew 58% in July, compared to the same month last year.

At the Latin American level, IATA indicates that airlines reported that capacity increased to 92%, while occupancy levels closed at 85.2% compared to data from July last year.

“July results continued to be good, with some markets approaching pre-crisis levels. And this is even with capacity constraints in those parts of the world that were not prepared to meet the strong demand. There is still a lot to catch up on, but it is excellent news before we enter the traditionally slower fall and winter quarters in the Northern Hemisphere,” said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.

Pedro Heilbron, executive president of Copa Airlines, has indicated that the company continues to see signs of recovery in the region, which will be reflected in the operating and financial results of the third quarter.

During July and September, the company would be recovering the levels prior to the respiratory pandemic that left the Copa fleet grounded for more than six months in 2020.

Peter Cerdá, regional vice president of IATA, commented that Latin America is at the forefront of the recovery of air transport globally after the pandemic.

Heilbron indicated that the leisure segment is currently driving the demand for air travel, while business travelers represent close to the company’s movement, still far from pre-pandemic levels.

The main obstacle for airlines continues to be the high cost of fuel says, Heilbron.

“The strong demand allows us to produce better yields and also allows the fact that the fuel affects everyone more or less equally, allows the improvement in performance to be more sustainable, at least for now”. he said.