Lower vaccination rates have dampened Africa’s air travel recovery to date, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“With more countries lifting travel restrictions for those vaccinated, the freedom of movement will be limited until vaccines are universally available,” said Kamil Alawadhi IATA Regional Vice-President AME.
“With only15% of Africa’s population fully vaccinated, the challenge is particularly acute.”
However, some catching up is likely this year, which will contribute to an improved financial performance, as per IATA’s Global Outlook for Air Transport report released at the ongoing IATA Annual General Meeting in Doha,on Monday.
The Outlook forecasts the region’s aviation sector net losses to drop to $0.7 billion in 2022 from 1.1 billion last year.
It also says travel demand is expected to reach 72 % of pre-crisis (2019) levels, and capacity at 75.2% at the end of this year while the cargo business is doing well already operating at 9% above pre-crisis levels.
Globally, revenues are rising as COVID-19 restrictions ease and people return to travel.
IATA’s Outlook says the industry’s revenues are expected to reach $782 billion (+54.5% in 2021), 93.3% of 2019 levels.
MG/as/APA