Twice as many people took the plane in 2021 than in 2019 in the world against the backdrop of the persistent Covid-19 pandemic, according to preliminary figures released on Wednesday by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This 49% drop represents a slight improvement after the 60% drop observed in 2020 compared to 4.5 billion passengers the previous year, according to the UN agency based in Montreal (Canada).
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Airlines have remained permanently affected by this historic crisis, with revenue losses estimated at 324 billion dollars in 2021, against around 372 billion in 2020, according to the same source.
Also compared to 2019, they reduced their seat offer by some 40% in 2021 after 50% in 2020. This figure should be between 20 and 23% this year.
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For 2022, the ICAO envisages scenarios oscillating between -26% and -31% of passengers compared to 2019 and losses in turnover between 186 and 217 billion dollars, compared to the level of the last full year before the health crisis.
