Introduction
Regional and sub-regional outlook for airfares
Using a US-dollar-based index produced by IATA (International Air Transport Association), the recovery in airfares through 2024 has been outlined for four regions (Africa & the Middle East, Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe) and their various sub-regions.
IATA’s index covers the airfares paid by all travelers, combining both business and leisure travelers. It does not explicitly reflect movements in the fares paid for corporate travel.
For each of the regions, this report outlines IATA’s latest predictions for airfare movements in 2023. It also plots the evolution of airfares from a pre-pandemic 2019 base out to IATA’s forecasts for 2024. The key messages from this analysis are:
- In 2024, airfares in Africa & the Middle Fares should have reached a level one-fifth above 2019 pricing
- In the Americas, the South America sub-region is trailing the general rebound in airfares
- In Asia Pacific, Northeast Asia has lagged the wider regional rebound in pricing
- By 2024, airfares in both European sub-regions should have progressed to 15% above their pre-pandemic level
Africa and the Middle East
Fares in 2024 should be around one-fifth above their 2019 level
Airfares year-over-year % in 2023
Airfares v 2019
The Middle East led the initial recovery in airfares, which moved back above pre-pandemic levels in 2022. By 2023, fares were 20% above 2019, but IATA expects a loss of momentum in this region in 2024.
While Africa’s fare recovery was much slower, a strong performance in sub-Saharan markets should propel fares in 2024 to 21% above their 2019 level, closely matching the recovery in the Middle East. But the outlook also includes a loss of momentum in North Africa.
Americas
South America is trailing the general recovery in fares across the Americas
Airfares year-over-year % in 2023
According to IATA’s forecasts, airfares across the Americas should rise by 16.5% year-over-year in 2023, but there’s variation across the sub-regions.
While theexpectations for the two largest sub-regions, North and South America, are broadly aligned with the Americas average, Central America’s forecast is slightly above it at 19%.
Airfare movements will be weakest in the Caribbean, with just a 9% rise likely in 2023.
Airfares v 2019
The rate at which airfares are increasing should slow in North and South America in 2024, while IATA predicts a 3% decline in Central America.
On average, fares across the Americas should still be around one-fifth above their pre-pandemic level. But in South America, which was hit the hardest during the pandemic, a delayed and slower recovery may leave fares in 2024 just 10% higher than they were in 2019. Exchange rate issues may be weighing on the recovery of US dollar-based fares in this sub-region.
Asia Pacific
Northeast Asia is lagging the wider regional recovery in airfares
Airfares year-over-year % in 2023
Airfares v 2019
Southwest Pacific has led the airfares recovery, with pricing in 2024 likely to be almost one-quarter above 2019. South and Southeast Asia have both posted solid recoveries, with airfares likely to be on average 16% higher.
Northeast Asia is lagging the general recovery. Airfares in this sub-region only returned to their pre-pandemic levels in 2023, and IATA only expects them to be 7% higher in 2024.
Europe
Fares in 2024 should be 15% higher than in 2019
Airfares year-over-year % in 2023
Airfares v 2019
