European carriers’ November 2021 international traffic declined 43.7% versus November 2019, Iata said. However, this was an improvement on the 49.4% decrease in October 2021 versus the same month in 2019. Capacity dropped 36.3% and load factors fell 9.7 percentage points to 74.3%.

Globally, demand for air travel in November 2021 was down 47% compared to November 2019. This marked an uptick compared to October 2021’s 48.9% contraction from October 2019.

However, demand for international air travel is still far below 2019 levels. International passenger demand in November was 60.5% below November 2019. Nevertheless, this was an improvement on the 64.8% decline recorded in October.

Iata director general Willie Walsh said: “The recovery in air traffic continued in November. Unfortunately, governments over-reacted to the emergence of the Omicron variant at the close of the month and resorted to the tried-and-failed methods of border closures, excessive testing of travellers and quarantine to slow the spread.”

Walsh warned the consequences of this would be seen in December and January figures.

“Not surprisingly, international ticket sales made in December and early January fell sharply compared to 2019, suggesting a more difficult first quarter than had been expected,” he said.

“If the experience of the last 22 months has shown anything, it is that there is little to no correlation between the introduction of travel restrictions and preventing transmission of the virus across borders. And these measures place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.

“If experience is the best teacher, let us hope that governments pay more attention as we begin the new year,” he said.