The business of airlines that operate in the cabotage Argentina is taking note of the impact of the economic crisis on consumers’ pockets: the number of passengers registers a marked drop against last year’s figures.
According to official data updated as of last October, the number of cabotage travelers decreased by 12.6% compared to the same month of 2023, with a total transported of 1.37 million people.
Strictly speaking, the drop in the year-on-year comparison did not begin in October. It is a phenomenon that began in April of this year, with a drop of 9.9%.
In subsequent months the difference widened to a peak of 22.8% in May, and in recent months stabilized in a range of falls of approximately 12%.
When taking the accumulated of the first ten months of the year in cabotaje, the drop is 9.3%, since in that period of 2023 28,410,000 passengers flew, compared to 25,763,000 in 2024.
Analyzed by airline, it is noted that Aerolíneas Argentinas lost 111,396 passengers in October versus the same month last year. Then there was Flybondi with 82,323 fewer passengers. and JetSmart lost 7,177 passengers in the same comparison period.
Despite these figures, Aerolíneas managed to maintain its load factor at 86%, while Flybondi reduced it by 2 points and JetSmart by 1 point.
Warning lights in the airline sector
This panorama turned on the warning lights among the companies, especially because it is noted that The increase in cabotage ticket prices generated a consumption gap.
The middle and low-income sectors, favored by the consumption stimuli of the electoral year, had been able to access the promotions that the low cost enabled in 2023.
On the other hand, in this year of strong recession it was seen that the more affluent sectors, which had also increased the numbers of domestic flights, In recent months they have turned to buying tickets to fly abroadencouraged among other things by a dollar that has been giving clear signs of delay compared to other prices in the economy.
Thus, the flip side of the drop in the number of cabotage passengers is an increase in the number of Argentines traveling abroad.
According to the same official statistics prepared by the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), in October The number of international passengers grew 6.3% compared to the same month in 2023.
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Although this variation She is the smallest in the series so far this year, complete ten consecutive months of increase compared to last year’s movement. The peak was 22.8% and was recorded in February.
One fact that drew attention to the growth in demand for tickets abroad is that the three airlines that operate in the domestic market suffered a sharp drop in their international load factor dduring October.
Argentine Airlines resigned 4 points against October 2023 and its factor went from 86% to 82%. Meanwhile, JetSmart was the one that lost the most, with a difference of 10 pointsfrom 83% a year ago to 73% in October of this year. Flybondi lost 8 pointsdropping from 84% to 76%.
On the other hand, the increase in international passengers was reflected in an increase in the load factor of other airlines such as the Panamanian Copa (+2 points), Lufthansa (+6 points), Latam, Gol and American Airlines, the latter three with increases. of 2 points.
Source: Ambito
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