According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the recovery in air travel decelerated in August, due to government action in response to concerns over the COVID-19 Delta variant.
When comparing domestic travel numbers in August 2021 to air travel numbers in August 2019, when domestic travel demand was normal, IATA said, air travel demand fell sharply.
“August results reflect the impact of concerns over the Delta variant on domestic travel, even as international travel continued on a snail’s pace toward a full recovery that cannot happen until governments restore the freedom to travel,” Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said.