GENEVA -  Newly released data for November 2023 air travel performance indicates that air travel demand globally topped 99% of 2019 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Total traffic in November 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 29.7% compared to that of the previous November.

In a news release Wednesday, IATA said that globally, traffic is now at 99.1% of November 2019 levels.

Additionally, international traffic rose 26.4% versus November 2022.

The Asia-Pacific region continued to report the strongest year-over-year results (+63.8%), with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year.

November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5% of November 2019 levels.

IATA said domestic traffic for November 2023 was up 34.8% compared to November 2022.

Total November 2023 domestic traffic was 6.7% above the November 2019 level.

Growth was particularly strong in China (+272%) as it recovered from the COVID-19 travel restrictions that were still in place a year ago.

US domestic travel, benefitting from strong Thanksgiving holiday demand, reached a new high, expanding +9.1% over November 2019.

“We are moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year for air travel," Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, is quoted as saying.

"Economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies.

"International travel remains 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels but that gap is rapidly closing. And domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April," added Walsh.