Market Intelligence: -Airline Hiring

IATA: Passenger Demand Up 21.5% in February 2024 Compared to February 2023

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), was up 21.5% compared to February 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 18.7% year-on-year. The February load factor was 80.6% (+1.9ppt compared to February 2023).

International demand rose 26.3% compared to February 2023; capacity was up 25.5% year-on-year and the load factor improved to 79.3% (+0.5ppt on February 2023).

Domestic demand rose 15.0% compared to February 2023; capacity was up 9.4% year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6% (+4.0ppt compared to February 2023).

Note that February 2024 was a leap year with one extra day compared to February 2023. This slightly exaggerates growth in both demand and capacity to the positive.

“The strong start to 2024 continued in February with all markets except North America reporting double-digit growth in passenger traffic. There is good reason to be optimistic about the industry’s prospects in 2024 as airlines accelerate investments in decarbonization and passenger demand shows resilience in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainties.  It is critical that politicians resist the temptation of cash grabs with new taxes that could destabilize this positive trajectory and make travel more expensive. In particular, Europe is a worry as it seems determined to lock in its sluggish economic recovery with uncompetitive tax proposals,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

International Passenger Markets

All regions showed double digit growth for international passenger markets in February 2024 compared to February 2023. For the first time, demand for international services exceeded pre-pandemic levels (+0.9% compared to February 2023). This, however, is skewed by February 2024 being a leap-year with an extra day compared to February 2023.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 53.2% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 52.1% year-on-year and the load factor rose to 84.9% (+0.6ppt compared to February 2023), the highest among all regions.

European carriers’ saw a 15.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 16.0% year-on-year, and the load factor was 74.7% (flat compared to February 2023).

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 19.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 19.1% year-on-year and the load factor rose to 80.8% (+0.4ppt compared to February 2023).

North American carriers saw a 16.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 17.6% year-on-year, and the load factor fell to 77.7% (-1.1ppt compared to February 2023).

Latin American airlines’ saw a 21.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 18.6% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 84.2% (+1.7ppt compared to February 2023).

African airlines’ saw a 20.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 22.1% year-on-year. The load factor fell to 74.0% (-0.8ppt compared to February 2023).

Source: International Air Transport Association
Photo Credit: International Air Transport Association

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Irish Pilot Training Organisation Atlantic Flight Training Academy Welcomes 8 New Airline Cadet Pilots in April 2024

Atlantic Flight Training Academy, founded in 1995 and Ireland’s largest – and one of Europe’s leading – Independent Flight Training Organisations, has shared that 8 new integrated class cadets from two airline partners: Ryanair and GlobeAir have started their training in April 2024.

Back in November 2022 GlobeAir announced a new Pilot Training Partnership with  Atlantic Flight Training Academy, to train cadets for their future careers as commercial pilots in 2023/2024. The candidates involved in the pilot training programme as part of the partnership between GlobeAir and AFTA will receive 18 months of extensive training in Cork and Waterford airports in Ireland. On successful completion of pilot training and a final GlobeAir assessment, cadets will have attained a standard where they are ready to join the GlobeAir Cessna Citation Citation Mustang type-rating programme.

In March 2024 Atlantic Flight Training Academy shared that in line with the increased demand for pilot training that it added another flight simulator – a new fixed based flight simulator, a Boeing 737-8200 Max, manufactured by MPS featuring full replica flight decks of both the Boeing 737-8200 Max and the 737-800 Next Generation (NG). Under the guidance of a highly experienced team of former and current airline pilots, AFTA’s APS MCC courses ensure that students receive top-tier training and expertise, setting the standard for excellence in the industry including cadets enrolled in the Ryanair Mentored Programme.

AFTA was established in 1995 and has seen a remarkable success rate with trainees. Over 2700 pilots who started their careers at AFTA are employed by leading airlines globally including Ryanair, a Boeing 737 MAX customer, who have a long-standing partnership with AFTA. The training contract with Ryanair is called the Ryanair mentored pilot programme and pilots are trained to Ryanair specific SOPs, procedures and standards before doing their type rating with the airline.

Source: Atlantic Flight Training Academy
Photo Credit: Atlantic Flight Training Academy

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