ACI World data reveals the turning point of the COVID-19 pandemic
Global passenger traffic declined by -55.9% year-over-year in March
Montreal, 5 June 2020 – Airports Council International (ACI) World reports that global passenger traffic declined by -55.9% year-over-year by the end of March as a result of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. This followed a drop of -10.7% in February.
Global passenger traffic experienced an overall drop of -22.7% for the first quarter of 2020. The 12-month rolling average for the global industry entered negative territory, recorded at -3.1% by month’s end.
The effect on the freight industry were not yet as significant in March, with global volumes declining by -14.4% compared to March 2019 and resulting in a -6.9% drop for the first quarter of 2020. The global 12-month rolling average continued to be negative at -3.8% by the end of the month.
ACI collects and analyses data from a significant sample of airports that provide regular reports on monthly passenger and air freight statistics, forming part of the world’s most comprehensive source for airport data.
“The second week of March was a turning point for the reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic as national governments implemented strict confinement measures which brought the industry to a virtual halt,” ACI World Director General Angela Gittens said.
“While the crisis’s impact on passenger traffic was mostly in the Asia-Pacific in February, March figures showed its spread across the world, affecting both domestic and international markets.
“Global freight volumes have not been affected to the same extent as passenger traffic. The need to move time-sensitive shipments and vital supplies, including urgent medical supplies, and goods to support the global economy, helped the freight industry avoid the level of declines in demand experienced by the passenger traffic segment.”
Passenger traffic
Global international and domestic markets posted unprecedented declines falling by -62.4% and -50.6% respectively. The 12-month rolling average for the international segment was recorded at -2.6% and the domestic segment at -3.4%.
Among major regional markets, Asia-Pacific continues to be the most impacted with declines of -77.6% in March for its international market and -54.4% to its domestic market. The Middle East recorded a loss of -58.6%.
North America and Europe were also badly affected by the ongoing crisis losing more than half of their international traffic in March (-50.4% and 60.1% respectively). Those significant losses brought the 12-month rolling averages to -7.7% for Asia-Pacific, -1.1% for North America and -1.8% for Europe.
Africa’s gains in the first two months of 2020 were erased by significant losses in March (-46.0%) bringing its total passengers’ figures for the first quarter to -11.1%. Latin America-Caribbean’s good performance in the beginning of the year was offset by a loss of -41.1% in March compared to the prior year.
Freight volumes
The international freight market moved significantly into negative territory in March with a loss of -15.7% compared to the slight gain of +0.4% in February. For the third consecutive month, domestic freight continued its downward trend reaching -11.1% for the month down from -2.4% in February and -4.4% in January. As a result, total freight figures for March as well as the 12-month rolling average posted significant declines at -14.4% and -3.8% respectively.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has started to appear in all major freight markets. The global double-digit decline posted in March was mostly driven by Asia-Pacific (-17.2%) and Europe (-16.4%). North America, on the other hand, recorded a less significant drop of -6.6% in total freight volumes mitigated by a relatively modest decrease in its domestic traffic of -1.6%. North America’s international freight market, however, showed signs of weakness in falling by -13.8% for the month of March.
The Middle East (-17.9%), Africa (-20.8%) and Latin America-Caribbean (-23.4%) posted declines in line with major markets for March 2020.
Notes for editors
- The Policy Brief: COVID-19: Relief Measures to Ensure the Survival of the Airport Industry is available free of charge on the ACI World website.
- ACI World has released a detailed breakdown of the predicted economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global airport industry.
- Stay up to date with ACI World’s COVID-19 communications through its dedicated news hub.
- Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, customer-centric and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2020, ACI serves 668 members, operating 1979 airports in 176 countries.
- PaxFlash and FreightFlash statistics are based on a significant sample of airports that provide regular monthly reports to ACI. They represent approximately 60% of total passenger traffic and 70% of total freight traffic worldwide. Commentary, tables, and charts are based on preliminary data submitted by participating airports and are therefore subject to change.
Charts and tables
Traffic table definitions:
PASSENGER TRAFFIC: departing + arriving passengers
INTERNATIONAL: traffic performed between the designated airport and an airport in another country/territory
DOMESTIC: traffic performed between two airports located in the same country/territory
TOTAL: international + domestic passengers + direct transit passengers counted once (when breakdown is available)
Year-over-year percentage changes (% YOY) are calculated from a representative sample.
YOY Year-over-year same month comparison
YTD Year to date, starting Jan 2019, compared to same period in previous year
YE Year end, based on a rolling 12-month period, compared to the same prior 12-month period
Traffic table definitions:
FREIGHT TRAFFIC: loaded and unloaded freight; data in metric tonnes
INTERNATIONAL: traffic performed between the designated airport and an airport in another country/territory
DOMESTIC: traffic performed between two airports located in the same country/territory
TOTAL: international + domestic freight (when breakdown is available)
Note: No domestic freight traffic is reported by airports in the Middle East and Africa regions.
Year-over-year percentage changes (% YOY) are calculated from a representative sample.
YOY Year-over-year same month comparison
YTD Year to date, starting Jan 2019, compared to same period in previous year
YE Year end, based on a rolling 12-month period, compared to same prior 12-month period
Media contacts
Bojana Jeremic
Manager, External Relations and Special Events
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1254
Email: mediarelations@aci.aero