Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Something interesting – and potentially worrying – is happening with air connectivity. In the years 2015-2019 route growth expanded at 3% per year, with total numbers of routes peaking at 70,174. But the pandemic has proved to be a watershed. Since the 2020-21 collapse, passenger numbers have recovered and surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but route numbers have not.
Thomas Reynaert, SVP, External Affairs, IATA, addresses this complicated picture during the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Watch more videos from the IATA AGM & WATS 2026: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM2XOQXtRLMeJRKG-ZjyymgVCUPv2tknA
Learn more about the event: iata.org/en/events/agm/agm-2026
#IATAAGM
Something interesting – and potentially worrying – is happening with air connectivity. In the years 2015-2019 route growth expanded at 3% per year, with total numbers of routes peaking at 70,174. But the pandemic has proved to be a watershed. Since the 2020-21 collapse, passenger numbers have recovered and surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but route numbers have not.
Thomas Reynaert, SVP, External Affairs, IATA, addresses this complicated picture during the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Watch more videos from the IATA AGM & WATS 2026: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM2XOQXtRLMeJRKG-ZjyymgVCUPv2tknA
Learn more about the event: iata.org/en/events/agm/agm-2026
#IATAAGM
