Quantcast

Global air travel demand hits new highs in post-pandemic recovery

Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Heathrow Chief Defends £50–60 billion Third Runway Amid Rising Costs Debate
New UK airline with cheap US fares is ‘parked’ after just TWO flights – with people fearing it’s been scrapped for good
US carriers shamed in surprising new list of the world’s ‘cleanest’ airlines
Air Force Pilot Wasn't Alerted to Collision Course with Passenger Jet Before Scary Near Miss, Says Official
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
American Airlines Launches Ultra‑Long‑Haul DFW–Manila Flights
Thousands of flights canceled or delayed across America's busiest airports
Summer flight delays to be 'worst ever' this year - what to do if affected
Emirates operates with SAF at London Heathrow Airport
British Airways Introduces Brunch Service on Long-Haul Flights
AirAsia FREE SEATS is BACK! - Book Cheap Flight now!
FAA Investigating After JetBlue Plane Skids Off Runway
Virgin Atlantic Offers Family-Friendly Holiday Packages
The Billion-Dollar Outlier That's Rescuing San Francisco Tourism
New Heathrow Security Rule Makes Packing Bags Easier for Travelers
Alaska Airlines Adding More Boeing 787 to Boost Seattle Hub
Ryanair cancels 170 flights, disrupts over 30,000 passengers on French ATC strike
What to Know About Travel to Europe During This Record-Breaking Heatwave
Airport Workers Save the Day After Woman Loses Diamond from Her Engagement Ring in Baggage Carousel
I never talk to strangers on the plane. After my dad died, a passenger helped me talk about my grief.
American Airlines reveals new summer route: Miami → Rome
Budget UK airline launches huge sale with £29 flights to 475 holiday hotspots – but you’ll have to be quick
Delta Passengers Can Book a ‘Last Mile’ Private Jet Charter to Europe This Summer
Honeywell Runway Safety Technology Selected by Southwest Airlines for Fleetwide Installation
Southwest Airlines Adds Cockpit Alerts to Boost Runway Safety
FAA Drone Detection Testing
This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
Summer of savings? New analysis shows airfare has dropped significantly - The Points Guy
Global air travel demand hits new highs in post-pandemic recovery
Policy
Webp received 1163259605198768
Willie Walsh Director General of IATA | International Air Transport Association Website

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global passenger demand in 2024 reached unprecedented levels, surpassing figures from 2019. The organization highlighted a 10.4% increase in full-year traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), compared to 2023, and a 3.8% rise over the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Capacity, as measured by available seat kilometers (ASK), saw an 8.7% year-on-year increase, with the average load factor reaching a record high of 83.5%. International traffic grew by 13.6%, while domestic traffic rose by 5.7%.

December capped off the year strongly with RPKs and ASKs increasing by 8.6% and 5.5%, respectively, leading to record load factors of 84%.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

In the US domestic market, which holds a significant share of net RPKs at 14.4%, both demand and capacity grew by around 3%. China experienced notable growth in RPKs at 12.3%, despite only adding slightly more capacity.

Internationally, North America reported a traffic rise of 14.4% but saw a minor decrease in average load factors.

Willie Walsh, IATA's director general, remarked on the robust travel demand: “Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency." He noted that the aviation industry's growth impacts societies and economies positively but also acknowledged challenges such as safety concerns following an incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Walsh addressed sustainability goals for airlines aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, pointing out that only a small fraction of fuel needs were met with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in 2024 due to limited supply and high costs.

“SAF is in short supply and costs must come down," he said, suggesting government support for renewable energy production could alleviate this issue.

Looking ahead to 2025, Walsh anticipated continued travel demand growth at a moderated pace aligned with historical averages.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

UPS has operated one of the longest direct air cargo routes in the United States since 2018, connecting Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky with Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the 737 family, designed to compete with the Airbus A321neo.

Aug 2, 2025

Russian airline Aeroflot reported significant flight disruptions on Monday, July 28, due to a failure in its information systems.

Aug 2, 2025

After more than four years, American Airlines will reintroduce its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) route starting October 6.

Aug 2, 2025

The Airbus A321XLR, which entered service in late 2024, is now the longest-range narrowbody aircraft available.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 are the only commercial jetliners with a partial or full second passenger deck, and both have left a significant mark on aviation history.

Aug 2, 2025