Global passenger demand accelerated in Jan with a particularly strong performance by Asia-Pacific carriers, says IATA as it announces new benchmark Jan passenger traffic.
“The record high load factors that accompany this strong demand are yet another reminder of the persistent supply chain issues in the aerospace sector,” says IATA’s director general Willie Walsh,
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kms was up 10.0% year-on-year while total capacity, measured in available seat kms, was up 7.1%. The Jan load factor was 82.1% (+2.2 ppt on Jan last year).
International demand was up 12.4% year-on-year, capacity rose 8.7% and the load factor was 82.6% (up 2.7% on 2024). Domestic demand rose 6.1% year-on-year, capacity was up 4.5% and load factor was 81.2% (+1.2 ppt compared to 2024).
. . . By Region
Asia-Pacific demand was particularly strong, notes Walsh, with a 21.8% year-on-year demand increase. Capacity rose 16.5% year-on-year and the loads were 86.7% (+3.8 ppt over Jan 2024). European carriers were up 8.6% year-on-year increase, with capacity up 6.2%, and loads up 79.2% (+1.8 ppt year-on-year). Middle Eastern carriers achieved 9.6% year-on-year increase, with capacity up 4.4% , and a load factor of 83.8% (+4.0 ppt over Jan 2024). Results were underpinned by a gradual return of traffic in Israel, adds Walsh. North American carriers were up 3.8% year-on-year, with capacity up 0.6% and loads at 81.8% (+2.6 ppt year-on-year. Latin American airlines saw 12.9% Jan growth, with capacity up 15.5% and loads at 84.3%. African airlines were up 14.9%, with capacity up 11.2%, and loads at 75.9%. “The strong growth in demand aligns with the results of our latest passenger survey (Nov 2024) in which 94% of travellers indicted that they planned to travel as much or more in the coming 12 months than they did in the past year, concludes Walsh.
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