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IATA reports mixed performance in global air passenger demand for February 2025

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IATA reports mixed performance in global air passenger demand for February 2025
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Frédéric Léger Senior Vice President Commercial Products & Services | International Air Transport Association - IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued its data for February 2025 concerning global passenger demand. The overall passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), rose by 2.6% compared to the same period last year. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased by 2.0% year-on-year. The load factor for February was registered at 81.1%, reflecting a slight increase from February 2024.

International travel demand grew by 5.6% from February 2024, with a 4.5% rise in capacity and a load factor of 80.2%. In contrast, domestic travel saw a decline of 1.9% in demand compared to the previous year, with capacity decreasing by 1.7% and a load factor of 82.6%.

Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General, commented, “While traffic growth slowed in February, much of this can be explained by factors including the leap year and lunar new year falling in January compared to February last year. February traffic hit an all-time high, and the number of scheduled flights is set to continue increasing in March and April. But we need to keep a close eye on developments in North America, which saw falls in both domestic and international traffic.”

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Walsh also highlighted concerns about passenger rights regulations in Europe following disruptions at Heathrow, stating, “The recent shut-down of Heathrow reminded us once again that the current passenger rights regime in place in Europe and the UK is not fit for purpose. The annual costs of compensation, care and assistance run into the billions. Thankfully, the Polish Presidency of the EU has recognized that this is a drag on European competitiveness and is progressing much-needed and long-anticipated reforms to EU261.”

Regionally, all areas except North America saw increased demand in international passenger markets. Asia Pacific airlines experienced a 9.5% increase, while European carriers noted a 5.7% rise. Middle Eastern carriers saw a 3.1% increase. North American airlines, however, faced a 1.5% decrease in demand. Latin American and African airlines both experienced a significant rise of 6.7% in demand.

In domestic markets, China faced a 3.2% decline, attributed partly to seasonal holiday shifts, and the US saw a 4.2% fall in domestic traffic. Conversely, domestic markets in India showed strong demand growth of 13.2%.

February data reveals variations in regional performance, suggesting selective growth and challenges across different geographical and economic landscapes. The IATA findings point to a trend of recovery yet highlight areas needing monitoring, especially in North America and Europe regarding passenger rights policies.

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