The aviation industry, one of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic, is turning in fast growth. The aviation component of the Skift Travel Health Index gained 19% year-on-year in October, our most recent reading.
According to the Skift Travel Health Index: October 2024 Highlights, aviation performance surged across all regions, but Asia Pacific led the way with a 33% increase.
We can further break down our airline index into into indicators such as flight searches and bookings, and the Asia-Pacific region dominates in all of them with more than 30% growth.
Read the latest Travel Health Index Highlights for data across all regions.
Growing Demand for Airport Lounges
The Travel Health Index also incorporates growth in airport lounge visits. Domestic lounge visits in the Asia-Pacific region surpassed 2019 levels by mid-2022, while those by international visitors took longer due to the delayed re-opening after the pandemic. However, 2024 witnessed a swift rebound, and as of October 2024, international lounge visits have grown 37% over 2019.
Note: Australia, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, India, and Singapore are the countries tracked in the Asia Pacific region.
A survey by Collinson revealed that airport lounge access is the top travel-related credit card perk for 44% of Asia-Pacific travelers, surpassing benefits like security fast-track and airport transfers. A significant 90% of these travelers consider lounge access essential for any fee-based credit card.
This growing demand for premium travel experiences reflects a desire for comfort, convenience, and exclusivity. Airport lounges offer a variety of amenities, including comfortable seating, high-speed Wi-Fi, gourmet dining, and spa treatments.
Read the October 2024 Highlights for more insights and the Travel Health Index dashboard to visualize the data.
