PARIS — Global air passenger traffic will recover more slowly than expected this year because coronavirus variants have created strong headwinds, an industry group warned Wednesday.
The International Air Transport Association now estimates that traffic will reach between 33 and 38 percent of the levels recorded in 2019, an IATA statement said.
The previous 2021 forecast was for traffic to reach 51 percent of the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
IATA represents 290 major airlines worldwide.
Based on actual traffic in January and bookings for February and March, “we know that the first half of the year is going to be weaker than we had expected in December,…
Keep on reading: COVID variants to slow air traffic recovery—IATA