The Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) of aviation industry worldwide dived 52.9 percent compared to the corresponding period a year ago.

The announcement was made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

It said that global passenger traffic results for March 2020 showed that RPKs dived 52.9 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

This was the biggest decline in recent history, reflecting the impact of government actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In seasonally adjusted terms, global passenger volumes returned to levels last seen in 2006, it said and added that in March, Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) capacity fell by 36.2 percent and load factor plummeted 21.4 percentage points to 60.6 percent.

"March was a disastrous month for aviation. Airlines progressively felt the growing impact of the COVID-19-related border closings and restrictions on mobility, including in domestic markets. Demand was at the same level it was in 2006, but we have the fleets and employees for double that. Worse, we know that the situation deteriorated even more in April and most signs point to a slow recovery," IATA said.

Moreover, it said that in March, international passenger demand shrank 55.8 percent as compared to the last corresponding month and added that all regions recorded double-digit percentage traffic declines and the capacity tumbled 42.8 percent and load factor plunged 18.4 percentage points to 62.5 percent.

IATA said that the industry had not hit bottom but was in a free fall. Therefore, it is imperative that governments work with industry to prepare strategies to drag out the aviation sector from the pit.