Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

The recovery in air travel decelerated in August compared with July, as government actions in response to concerns over the Covid-19 Delta variant cut deeply into domestic travel demand, according to statistics released Thursday by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).&nbsp;

 


Total demand for air travel in August 2021 measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs)&nbsp;fell 56.0&nbsp;percent&nbsp;compared with August 2019. The performance marked a slowdown from July, when demand had fallen 53.0 percent below July 2019 levels. &nbsp;

 


Domestic markets, whose RPKs fell 32.2 percent compared with August 2019, accounted for a major deterioration from July 2021, when traffic had fallen by just 16.1 percent versus two years ago. China saw the worst impact, while India and Russia were the only large markets to show a month-to-month improvement compared with July 2021.&nbsp;

 


Meanwhile, international passenger demand in August finished 68.8 percent below August 2019, which represented a modest improvement on the 73.1 percent decline recorded in July. All regions showed improvement, which IATA attributed to growing vaccination rates and less stringent international travel restrictions in some regions.&nbsp;

 


“August results reflect the impact of concerns over the Delta variant on domestic travel, even as international travel continued on a snail’s pace toward a full recovery that cannot happen until governments restore the freedom to travel,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “In that regard, the recent U.S. announcement to lift travel restrictions from early November on fully vaccinated travelers is very good news and will bring certainty to a key market. But challenges remain, [and] September bookings indicate a deterioration in international recovery. That’s bad news heading into the traditionally slower fourth quarter.”

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Latest IATA Stats Show Recovery Slowdown in August

The emergence of the Covid-19 Delta variant cut deeply into domestic demand during August, said IATA.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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