Global recovery: 2024 to be a turning point for air travel

Reports have indicated that 2023 year-end and 2024 will be a great year for global recovery of airports and air travel.

AIR TRAVEL SET FOR GLOBAL RECOVERY IN 2024

Airports advocacy association, ACI World recently revealed its quarterly assessment, and according to it, the year 2024 is set to be a milestone year for global airport recovery.

As reported by Travel News, the figures have shown that, by the end of this year alone, 9.4 billion passengers will have taken to the skies, translating to 102.5% of the 2019 levels, and overtaking 2019’s 9.2 billion passengers.

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Prior to the pandemic, global travellers were expected to reach 10.5 billion passengers in 2023, but post-pandemic projection for the end of this year is now sitting at 8.6 billion.

According to ACI, the forecast for 2024’s predicted global passenger traffic is currently at 10.9 billion.

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CAPE TOWN SEES IMPRESSIVE INFLUX

A little closer to home, Cape Town International Airport has already seen a massive 1.6 million two-way passengers pass through its gates between January to July 2023.

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As per a monthly tourism report compiled by the Western Cape Government’s official trade, investment and tourism promotion agency, Wesgro, the incredible number of arrivals at Cape Town International Airport represented a growth of 69% when compared with the same period in 2022.

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“The data in this month’s report points to an impressive winter season. This then bodes very well for our upcoming peak summer season, when we can look forward to possibly surpassing the previous summer.” the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger said.

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According to the data, between January and July 2023, Cape Town airport saw 1.6 million two-way international passengers and a total of 3.8 million domestic two-way passengers.

“We are more determined than ever to attract more visitors -both domestic and international- to the Western Cape, where there really is something for everyone, no matter what you are looking for. We have made this our mission because more tourists mean more jobs,” Wenger added.