Figures from airlines association Iata show total demand for air travel in September was still down 53.4% compared to the same month in 2019, although it was a slight improvement from August, which saw a 56% drop on 2019 passenger numbers.

Domestic flights continue to lead the recovery in aviation – only down by 24.3% on September 2019 – while international demand dropped by 69.2% over the same two-year period.

For European airlines, international travel was down 56.9% in September compared with 2019, which was a decline on August’s performance. Capacity in Europe for September was down 46.3% on two years ago, with load factors at 69.6%.

Willie Walsh, Iata’s director general, said: “September’s performance is a positive development but recovery in international traffic remains stalled amid continuing border closures and quarantine mandates.

“The recent US policy change to reopen travel from 33 markets for fully vaccinated foreigners from 8 November is a welcome, if long overdue, development.

“Along with recent reopenings in other key markets like Australia, Argentina, Thailand, and Singapore this should give a boost to the large-scale restoration of the freedom to travel.”