The novel coronavirus, more properly known as COVID-19, has officially had a tangible impact on the global airline industry, as International Air Transport Association releases the first official numbers from January.

Globally, air traffic demand for January 2020 climbed 2.4 percent from January 2019. This is down from 4.6 percent year-over-year growth for the prior month and represents the lowest monthly increase since April 2010.

“January was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the traffic impacts we are seeing owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, given that major travel restrictions in China did not begin until 23 January,” said Alaxandre de Juniac, general director and CEO, IATA.

In North America, international demand rose 2.9 percent compared to last January. Capacity climbed 1.6 percent.

“The COVID-19 outbreak is a global crisis that is testing the resilience not only of the airline industry but of the global economy. Airlines are experiencing double-digit declines in demand, and on many routes traffic has collapsed,” de Juniac continued.

In terms of domestic traffic, airlines in the United States reported a generous 7.5 percent increase. The growth is down from 10.1 percent growth in December. In China, domestic traffic fell 6.8 percent. In late January and early February, China’s Ministry of Transport repowered an 80 percent annual fall in volumes. Growth for February is expected to continue the pattern of decline as more restrictions and travel advisories went into effect as the month went on.

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