The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data showing growing momentum in the recovery of air travel as restrictions are lifted.

Improved Ticket Sales

IATA reported a sharp 11-percentage point increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks (in proportion to 2019 sales).

• In the period around 8 February (7 day moving average) the number of tickets sold stood at 49% of the same period in 2019
• In the period around 25 January (7 day moving average) the number of tickets sold stood at 38% of the same period in 2019
• The 11-percentage point improvement between the January and February periods is the fastest such increase for any two-week period since the crisis began

Progressive Alleviation of COVID-19 Measures

The jump in ticket sales comes as more governments announce a relaxation of COVID-19 border restrictions. An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 92% of global demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometers) revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travelers.

• 18 markets (comprising about 20% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine or pre-departure testing requirements.
• 28 markets are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine requirements (including the 18 markets noted above). This comprises about 50% of 2019 demand.
• 37 markets (comprising about 60% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers under varying conditions (18 having no restrictions, others requiring testing or quarantine or both).

These numbers reflect a spate of relaxations announced around the world, including in Australia, France, the Philippines, the UK, Switzerland, and Sweden among them.

IATA continues to call for:

• Removing all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine,
• Enabling quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure antigen test result,
• Removing travel bans, and,
• Accelerating the easing of travel restrictions in recognition that travelers pose no greater risk for COVID-19 spread than already exists in the general population.