June global air demand was 60.1 percent lower than its pre-pandemic June 2019 level, a comparative improvement from the 62.9 percent decline in May, according to the International Air Transport Association. June 2021 global capacity was down 51.6 percent from June 2019, and load factor fell 14.8 percentage points to 69.6 percent.

Crossborder travel continued its slow recovery. June crossborder demand was down 80.9 percent compared with June 2019, comparatively better than the 85.4 percent decline in May. IATA cited ongoing international travel restrictions as a contributing factor to slow recovery. June crossborder capacity was down 71 percent from June 2019, and load factor fell 28.5 percentage points to 55.2 percent.

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Domestic air demand was down 22.4 percent from its June 2019 level, an improvement from May’s 23.8 percent decline. IATA cited improved performances in Russia, the U.S. and Brazil as major drivers. The U.S. in particular has seen passenger traffic reach “85 percent of the pre-crisis levels as life returns quickly back to normal with successful Covid vaccine rollout,” according to IATA.

“We are seeing movement in the right direction, particularly in some key domestic markets, but the situation for international travel is nowhere near where we need to be,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh in a statement. “June should be the start of peak season, but airlines were carrying just 20 percent of 2019 levels. That’s not a recovery, it’s a continuing crisis caused by government inaction.” 

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