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International Air Transport Association declares 2020 worst year on record for industry
August 4th 2021
In its World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has confirmed 2020 was the worst year on record for air travel. Read More » The report said demand, or revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), declined 65.9% in 2020 compared with 2019. Passenger revenue tumbled 69%, to US$189 billion. Airlines posted a net loss of US$126.4 billion for the year. "Last year was a year we’d all like to forget. But analyzing the performance statistics for the period reveals an amazing story of perseverance," IATA director general, Willie Walsh, said. "It was the rapid action of airlines and the commitment of our people that saw the industry through the most difficult year in its history." At the depth of the COVID-19 crisis, in April 2020, about 66% of the world's commercial air transport fleet was grounded, Walsh said.
