According to the IATA’s statistics, expectations for the near-term recovery of air travel have shifted slightly, reflecting the evolution of government- imposed travel restrictions in some markets
The International Flight Transport Association (IATA), has mentioned that the total number of air passengers in the world will approach four billion in 2024, up 3 per cent from the pre-Covid level in 2019. Commenting on the development, Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI said according to the IATA’s statistics, expectations for the near-term recovery of air travel have shifted slightly, reflecting the evolution of government- imposed travel restrictions in some markets.
“The overall picture presented is, however, unchanged, from what was expected in November 2021, prior to the emergence of Omicron variant. The numbers and data shared by IATA looks encouraging but with restrictions placed on scheduled international commercial flights in India, airfares are skyrocketing and with limited seats and ongoing cancellations due to Ukraine-Russia crisis, situation looks grim. Our industry is always the first to be hit and last to recover. We hope our Indian numbers will grow up and become a part of the recovery of the air traffic. We are resilient and need to be optimistic and show a little more patience to be on track and revive,” she said.
“The numbers and data shared by IATA looks encouraging but with restrictions placed on scheduled international commercial flights in India, airfares are skyrocketing and with limited seats and ongoing cancellations due to Ukraine-Russia crisis, situation looks grim.”
— Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI
Jay Bhatia, VP, TAAI added: “People want to travel, and when the travel restrictions are lifted, they return to the skies. There is still a long way to go to reach a normal state of affairs, but the forecast for the evolution in passenger numbers gives good reason to be optimistic”.
Shreeram Patel, Treasurer, TAAI said that the economic and social hardship, caused for very limited benefit, is simply no longer acceptable in a growing number of markets. “As a result, the progressive removal of restrictions is giving a much-needed boost to the prospects for travel.”
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