Global air travel demand rises sharply in January: IATA report

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Global Industry News

Global air travel demand rises sharply in January: IATA report

Research

Dr Xie Xingquan Regional Vice President, North Asia & Asia Pacific (ad interim) | International Air Transport Association - IATA

By Sky Industry News

Feb 27, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a significant increase in passenger demand for January 2025. According to IATA's data, total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), rose by 10.0% compared to January 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased by 7.1% year-on-year, with the load factor reaching an all-time high of 82.1% for January.

International demand saw a rise of 12.4% compared to the previous year, with capacity up by 8.7% and a load factor of 82.6%, another record high for January.

Domestic demand grew by 6.1% from January 2024 levels, with capacity increasing by 4.5% year-on-year and a load factor at an all-time high of 81.2%.

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"We've seen a notable acceleration in demand this January, with a particularly strong performance by carriers based in the Asia-Pacific region," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General. "The record high load factors that accompany this strong demand are yet another reminder of the persistent supply chain issues in the aerospace sector. "

Walsh further noted that their latest passenger survey from November 2024 indicated that "94% of travelers indicted that they planned to travel as much or more in the coming twelve months than they did in the past year." He added that airlines are managing growing demand well amid fleet and infrastructure constraints, with satisfaction levels above ninety-five percent and nearly eighty percent of travelers agreeing that air travel is good value for money.

In terms of regional performance:

- Africa: RPK up15%; ASK up11 .5%; Load Factor at75 .9%

- Asia Pacific: RPK up16 .1%; ASK up11 .6%; Load Factor at84 .2%

- Europe: RPK up7 .4%; ASK up5 .3%; Load Factor at79 .8%

- Latin America: RPK up7 .9%; ASKup9 .9%, Load Factorat83 .3%

- Middle East:RPKup9 .6%,ASKup4 .3%,LoadFactorat83 .9%

- North America:RPKup3 .4%,ASKup2%.1%,LoadFactorat80%.5%

All regions showed growth for international passenger markets compared to January last year; however, Asia-Pacific exhibited particularly robust growth while Europe and North America's acceleration was less pronounced.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a remarkable21%.8year-on-yearincreaseindemandwithcapacityincreasedby16%.5yearonyearandloadfactorwas86%.7thehighestamongallregionsEuropeanCarrierssawan8%.6increaseindemandwithcapacityrisingby62yearonyearandloadfactorreaching792MiddleEasternCarriersreported96growthindemandwithcapacityincreasing44andloadfactorrisingto838NorthAmericanCarrierssawa38increaseindemandwhileLatinAmericanairlinessaw129growthAfricanAirlinesalsoreportedasignificant149increase

Domestic markets also performed well; China's domestic market grew by10drivenrecordnumberstravelingLunarNewYearIndiashowedstronggrowthdespiteengineissuessomecarriersJapanreported121growth