Air transport returned in July to three-quarters of the level recorded in the same month of 2019 - before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which shattered the sector, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced today, as quoted by France Presse.

World traffic, expressed in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), has reached 74.6 percent of the credit crisis level, the organization announced in a communiqué, BTA adds.

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This result, obtained in the middle of the key summer season, shows an acceleration from June, when the sector recovered 70.8 percent of the revenue passenger kilometers recorded in 2019. 

MAVT director general Willie Walsh welcomed the continued "strong" recovery of the sector, noting that "some markets are approaching their pre-pandemic levels".

The best performance was reported by domestic routes, with 86.9 percent of 2019 revenue passenger kilometers in July, up from 81.4 percent in June, thanks to an upswing in traffic in China after a spring of restrictions of movement.

Although international routes are lagging behind at 67.9 percent of the 2019 level and have registered growth compared to June (65 percent).

They are blocked mostly by the situation in Asia, where some countries have not yet fully opened their borders. 

The start of the summer was marked in Europe and the US by numerous delays, queues and flight cancellations due to staff shortages.

The sector also suffered from strikes for higher wages and better working conditions.

IATA also remains concerned about kerosene prices, which remain very high and are "a challenge for airlines", according to Willie Walsh.

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The air cargo sector expanded in July to 3.5 percent below the 2019 level due to a drop in orders, according to IATA. 

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