Airlines grew strongly in Apr with International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures showing revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), up 8% compared to a year earlier and international load factors hit a new high.
Growth across the Atlantic has returned although there are some signs of fragility in consumer and business confidence with continued weakness in the US domestic market and a sharp fall in North American premium class travel, IATA boss Willie Walsh warns. Worldwide total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 6.5 year-on-year. The Apr load factor was 83.6%, up one point compared to Apr 2024. International demand rose 10.8% and the load factor was 84.1, the highest ever for Apr. Domestic demand increased 3.3% and capacity was up 3.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.7%. Asia Pacific carriers recorded the highest international load factors among all regions at 85.3% in Apr. While many carriers in this region are enjoying strong growth, Air NZ’s aircraft engine issues are crimping its network with up to 10 planes grounded at a time. March figures showed its ASK was down 3% on last year.
