The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) has noted a 51% recovery of global aircraft movements since 12 April 2020 – the lowest traffic point to date during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the 14 consecutive weeks have shown growth in unique aircraft movements, according to data produced by Aireon.

“While we still have far to go to regain normal traffic numbers, it’s encouraging to see trends that suggest we are on course for a rebound,” said Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO. “These numbers are a testament not only to the resiliency of the aviation industry, but to the efforts of air traffic controllers, air navigation service providers, airports and airlines who have provided an essential service throughout this period of uncertainty and change.”

The week of 12 April saw a decline of over 535,000 global flight movements, with the weeks of 15 March and 22 March seeing reductions of 124,000 and 207,000 respectively. However, the past 14 weeks have seen an increase of approximately 272,000 flight movements – a 51% increase. What’s more global average daily flight numbers increased by 5,800 flights in the past two weeks, bringing air traffic volumes to 60% of 2019 volumes for the first time since the widespread traffic restrictions began.

Underlining the value of data-driven insights and analysis in gaining a better understanding of COVID-19’s impact within avaition, CANSO revealed its partnership with Aireon, global provider of space-based ADS-B data and air traffic management (ATM), technology in April.

Aireon CEO, Don Thoma, stressed that, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been clear that jurisdictions making decisions based on strong data have been the best prepared… For the aviation industry, data on air traffic has been crucial in understanding how the pandemic impacts a variety of critical aviation stakeholders, both in terms of understanding the trajectory of traffic recovery and how the ATM industry can continue to provide support for our eventual recovery.”

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