Global Air Travel Rebounds, But Domestic German Flights Lag Behind

While worldwide passenger numbers hit record highs in 2024, German domestic air travel remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

Global air travel in 2024 surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with a 3.8% increase in passengers compared to 2019, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Airplane seat occupancy reached a record 83.5% globally, driven in part by limited fleet expansion due to supply chain challenges.
Germany's domestic air travel remains weak, with passenger numbers nearly 50% lower than in 2019, despite a modest 3.7% year-over-year increase in 2024.
International air travel from Germany showed stronger recovery, with an 8% rise in 2024 but still 7.8% below 2019 levels.
German airports cite high state-imposed costs, such as aviation taxes and security fees, as barriers to recovery in domestic air travel.