Premium travel is back for airlines and remains key business ingredient

In the decade before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel in premium cabins generated approximately 20% of industry revenue globally and about 30% of all revenue from international operations.

This was despite premium passengers accounting for only 5% of international origin-destination passengers and approximately 7% of global revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs).

According to the airline trade body, International Air Transport Association (IATA), by the end of 2023 traffic (RPKs) in premium cabins was at 99.1% of pre-pandemic levels, while economy-class travel was only at 94.1% of 2019 volumes.

The new CAPA - Centre for Aviation report Premium Travel - The World's Top 10 Routes 2024 highlights the world's top ten premium travel routes.