Our World in Data(@OurWorldInData):How quickly has global air travel recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic? The COVID-19 pandemic was the worst shock the commercial airline industry has ever faced. In 2020, global passenger traffic collapsed almost overnight. How much has the industry recovered since? Passenger traffic was back above its pre-pandemic peak by 2024, as you can see in the chart. The share of available seats filled by paying passengers has also fully recovered, and now sits slightly above its 2019 level. Our colleague Veronika Samborska recently updated this data, which comes from the International Civil Aviation Organization, compiled and published by Airlines for America.

2026.05.13 11:27

How quickly has global air travel recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic? The COVID-19 pandemic was the worst shock the commercial airline industry has ever faced. In 2020, global passenger traffic collapsed almost overnight. How much has the industry recovered since? Passenger traffic was back above its pre-pandemic peak by 2024, as you can see in the chart. The share of available seats filled by paying passengers has also fully recovered, and now sits slightly above its 2019 level. Our colleague Veronika Samborska recently updated this data, which comes from the International Civil Aviation Organization, compiled and published by Airlines for America.