The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported trends in business and consumer confidence which it said indicates that the recovery in air transport volumes from the COVID-19 crisis will be "gradual and patchy". 

IATA said global business confidence "rebounded sharply" following a low in April as countries loosened restrictions and business became more "upbeat" regarding the resumption of economic activity.

It noted that this rebound would normally bode well for the air travel outlook, given the historical relationship between business sentiment and air traveller volumes. However, IATA reported a weakened relationship between business confidence and air travel due to limited corporate travel budgets, increased use of online conferencing, continued international travel restrictions and ongoing health and duty of care concerns.

Consumer sentiment, meanwhile, "remained subdued and close to a record low," despite a modest improvement from May, IATA said.

The airline association noted that this partly reflects concerns about rising unemployment and the continuity of government support programmes in the coming months.

The association stated these concerns are likely to continue to weigh on demand for leisure travel, along with uncertainty regarding containment of the pandemic.