Covid and turbulence: 22 reasons why air travel had a rough ride in 2022

2022 proved another challenging year for aviation. As the world began flying again after the pandemic, the industry was plagued by disruptions and cancellations. However, there were some positive developments as well, including slow recovery and progress toward greener aviation. Here’s a recap of the key highs and lows of this bumpy journey.

1. Mask mandates relaxed and we (mostly) said goodbye to face coverings

We kicked off the year with masks in place and Covid passes at the ready. By March and April, restrictions started to ease, with Europe leading the charge in loosening rules. While Asia remained cautious, places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan gradually reopened. In a surprising move, China abandoned its Zero Covid strategy, though experts caution that this shift might be too abrupt.

2. We all rushed to fly again – and that created chaos

Delays, cancellations, long lines, strikes, fewer flights, higher prices. The summer of travel turmoil extended into a chaotic winter as the aviation industry struggled with ongoing staffing shortages, infrastructure problems, and occasional worker disputes. With flights and seat availability in the US and beyond still falling short of pre-pandemic levels, soaring demand has continued to drive prices up.

3. One of the world's busiest airports urged airlines to stop selling tickets

Faced with overwhelming demand, London Heathrow capped daily passenger traffic at 100,000 departures in July. Amidst the chaos, which was dubbed ‘airmageddon,’ Delta Air Lines took an unusual step by flying a plane filled with 1,000 misplaced bags and no passengers from Heathrow to its Detroit hub to resolve a baggage crisis.

4. Some airlines attempted to cut corners

The pressure on airlines began to show. The CEO of budget carrier Wizz Air faced backlash for encouraging staff to take fewer breaks due to fatigue. Meanwhile, in the US, the Federal Aviation Administration blocked a controversial proposal from regional carrier Republic Airways to reduce the training hours required to become a co-pilot.

5. Passenger frustration soared

6. Flight attendants had enough of the unruly behavior

The chaos and tension led to a surge in disruptive passenger behavior. Flight attendants found themselves on the frontlines of a situation described as ‘unsustainable and chaotic.’

7. Asia-Pacific lost its crown as the world’s largest travel market

Before the pandemic reshaped global travel, Asia-Pacific accounted for over a third of all international passenger traffic. By October 2022, the region’s air travel was still down by 45%. In May, Dinogo reported that airline ticket scalpers had taken over the heavily restricted Chinese market.

8. Hong Kong chartered private jets for dogs and gave away airline tickets

In January 2022, amid stringent lockdowns, pet owners in Hong Kong were left with no choice but to charter private planes to relocate their dogs and cats. After enduring some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions for over two years, Hong Kong eased its rules in October 2022, announcing plans to distribute half a million free airline tickets to boost tourism.

9. The Ukraine invasion forced airspace closures

The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to the closure of airspace over both countries and sanctions on Russian airlines, with Russia retaliating in kind. The conflict also triggered a sharp rise in jet fuel prices in March. Tragically, the world’s largest commercial aircraft, the Antonov An-225, was destroyed by Russian forces early in the war, though efforts to rebuild it are now underway.

10. Another year of extreme weather

Experts predict that the climate crisis could lead to more frequent and severe clear-air turbulence in the coming decades. Recent incidents of severe turbulence include injuries to dozens of passengers on a Hawaiian Airlines flight in December 2023 and to five people on a United Airlines flight the following day.

11. Heat waves also affect air travel

This summer, severe heat waves affected Europe, the US, and Asia. In one case, flights were halted at a London airport after a runway was damaged by extreme temperatures. Intense heat can also make it harder for aircraft to take off, especially at airports located at higher altitudes. Here's why.

12. The Airbus A380 made a return

Though production of the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, has been discontinued, the superjumbo made a partial comeback after being grounded during the peak of the pandemic. Tim Clark, CEO of Emirates, the A380's largest customer, told Dinogo he hopes Airbus will build another plane of similar scale. But will manufacturers or airlines take the plunge?

13. The final Boeing 747 rolled off the production line

Over 50 years after the debut of the iconic 'queen of the skies,' the last-ever Boeing 747 rolled off the production line in December 2023, soon to be delivered to American cargo carrier Atlas Air. Meanwhile, Boeing’s next big project is the 777X, billed as 'the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet.'

14. More ultra-long-haul records were shattered

In March, Air New Zealand launched the first-ever direct flight between Auckland and New York, taking a marathon 17 hours. Shortly after, Qantas introduced a similar-length non-stop route between Melbourne and Dallas. In May, Qantas placed an order for 12 A350-1000 aircraft, which it plans to use for its ambitious 20-hour Project Sunrise flights, potentially connecting Australia with New York and London.

15. Airlines unveiled bold transatlantic plans

FlyAtlantic, a new player, is joining Norse Atlantic Airways in its bid to revive budget-friendly transatlantic flights, despite the notoriously tough profit margins in this market. JetBlue also revealed plans to expand its transatlantic low-cost service in 2023, adding new routes from New York and Boston to Paris, complementing its existing flights to London.

16. The much-anticipated supersonic revival continued

The race to replace Concorde continued to heat up. In July, Bombardier’s Global 8000, the world’s fastest passenger jet, surpassed the speed of sound in tests. Meanwhile, in August, American Airlines confirmed an order for 20 Mach 1.7 jets from Boom Supersonic, although the aircraft has yet to complete its first test flight. NASA also pressed forward with the development of its quieter supersonic plane, the X-59.

17. Several more sustainability milestones were achieved

In March, an Airbus A380 completed a flight powered by cooking oil and waste fats. This eco-friendly fuel, known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), is seen as a key solution for reducing carbon emissions, but it’s still not widely adopted. Airbus is also working on a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine, which will be tested on the A380.

18. New experimental aircraft took shape

The solar-powered Solar Impulse 2, capable of staying airborne for months, took a step closer to commercial production after being acquired by a US-Spanish start-up. Meanwhile, Spanish airline Air Nostrum made a bold move by ordering 10 hybrid airships in pursuit of greener aviation solutions. In September, the all-electric Alice, the first of its kind, made its inaugural flight in Washington.

19. Several major airports underwent redesigns

20. Cabin innovations emerged, some practical, others less so

21. An inexperienced passenger safely landed a plane

In April, Dinogo Travel became the first to test a controversial new double-decker airplane seat prototype, which quickly went viral. In June, Air New Zealand unveiled its Skynest concept: full-length sleeping pods for economy passengers, while in September, American Airlines introduced new premium suites complete with privacy doors.

In May, a passenger with no flying experience managed to land a single-engine Cessna 208 at a Florida airport after the pilot was incapacitated. In July, a pilot was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy North Carolina highway after his engine failed three times. Could you land a plane in a crisis? Here's what’s involved.

22. Plane-spotting became a viral internet trend

In February, UK plane-spotter Jerry Dyer became a national sensation as more than 200,000 people tuned in to his YouTube live stream from Heathrow Airport, watching bumpy aircraft landings during Storm Eunice. It was also a record-breaking year for flight-tracking service FlightRadar 24, which saw huge traffic spikes during events like the transportation of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin by RAF jet.