Global aviation capacity is 9.2 pc lower than the one in the same week of 2019
As the year end travels come to an end, there has been some fall in global aviation capacity over the past two weeks. According to data collated by aviation industry tracking and analysis firm OAG, this week’s global airline capacity is 95.0 million seats, a fall of 0.3 pc or about 300,000 seats compared to the last week. OAG says that now global aviation capacity is 9.2 pc lower than the one in the same week of 2019.
OAG releases fresh data each week with the latest capacity for the current week, and for filed scheduled capacity for the 11 weeks ahead, showing the overall 3 months forward-looking position. OAG says that the fall is temporary as the capacity is expected to build up again shortly. It says that the capacity should go back to 100 million seats a week within the next 6-8 weeks.
OAG says that domestic travels account for the entire drop in capacity, while international capacity has remained steady. While the domestic capacity for the week is 62.5 million, it is expected to rise by up to 2 million seats within a fortnight, largely due to the reopening of the Chinese market. The international air capacity has remained steady at 32.5 million seats and this number is expected to rise to 34 million seats within a month, says OAG forecast.
OAG says that the Lunar New Year holiday in China has not yet resulted in a big uplift in domestic capacity, partly as there are continuing restrictions on domestic capacity levels in China in an attempt to manage operational disruption associated with ramping back up. It says that domestic capacity in North East Asia is now sitting at 0.8 pc of 2019 levels and has seen a slight decline week on week, down by 1.9 pc or 365,000 seats.
International capacity in North East Asia remains down 60.8 pc on the same week in 2019, and up just 3 pc week on week as carriers tentatively add routes back into their schedules to and from China.
OAG adds that the capacity in South East Asia continues to see recovery, with carriers adding 62,000 seats in domestic markets this week and 36,000 international seats. South East Asia is now just 8.4 pc behind 2019 week on week in domestic air capacity, whilst international capacity is 34.6 pc behind.
