Air transport: spectacular growth despite the pandemic
The world of air transport has experienced rapid expansion over the past few decades. According to a study conducted by columnist Jean-Louise Barroux, President of World Connect By APG, the demand for air travel has seen a steady increase, with an average growth of 5% per year.
The figures speak for themselves: in 1970, 310 million passengers used air transport, a number which doubled in 1980 to reach 641 million passengers. By 1990, air traffic had already exceeded one billion passengers, reaching 1.67 billion in the year 2000. And the growth only accelerated from there: more than a billion additional passengers between 2000 and 2010, and another 1.8 billion more between 2010 and 2019, bringing the total number of passengers to 4.46 billion.
However, this incredible growth was abruptly interrupted in 2019 by the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. Restrictive measures and border closures led to a collapse in air traffic, bringing the number of passengers down to 1.77 billion, the level of the year 2000.
Despite these difficulties, the sector is preparing for a strong rebound. Borders are starting to open gradually, and air traffic has already regained some vitality, with 2.28 billion passengers in 2021 and an estimated 3.05 billion for 2022.
Signs of recovery are visible in many parts of the world. For example, during the last Paris Air Show, India placed an order for 1,000 planes, including 500 for the Indigo company and 500 for the future Air India/Vistara conglomerate. For its part, the company Royal Air Maroc has announced its intention to acquire 200 new aircraft. Chinese transporters are also very active and are running the production lines at full speed.
Airbus, one of the world leaders in the aeronautics industry, has an impressive order portfolio, with nearly 8,000 aircraft awaiting delivery. In addition, modern aircraft have a much longer lifespan than their 1970s predecessors. They can be operated for about 30 years, unlike the aircraft of the time which were withdrawn from service after only 15 years.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the airline industry is actively preparing to regain its former vigor. Growing demand and massive investment bear witness to the renewed confidence in this key sector of the global economy.
In conclusion, although air transport has been hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis, its ability to rebound and adapt suggests a promising future. The signs of recovery are there, and there is no doubt that planes will soon be flying again, carrying millions of passengers to new destinations