Key Highlights from the IATA Report

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently published its findings on February 2025 global passenger demand:

• Total demand rose by 2.6% compared to February 2024, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK). Capacity increased by 2.0%, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK).
• The load factor stood at 81.1%, which is a 0.4 percentage point improvement from February 2024.

International and Domestic Markets

• International demand showed a 5.6% increase versus the previous year, with a capacity rise of 4.5% and a load factor of 80.2%.
• Conversely, domestic demand decreased by 1.9%, with a capacity drop of 1.7%, leading to a load factor of 82.6%.

“While traffic growth slowed in February, much of this can be explained by factors including the leap year and Lunar New Year occurring in January last year. February’s traffic reached an all-time high, with the number of scheduled flights expected to rise in March and April. However, we must remain vigilant regarding developments in North America, which experienced declines in both domestic and international traffic,” said Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA.

Regional Performance

• Asia-Pacific airlines reported a 9.5% year-on-year demand increase, coupled with an 8.3% capacity rise and a load factor of 85.7%.
• European carriers saw a 5.7% demand increase, with a 4.9% rise in capacity and a load factor of 75.5%.
• Meanwhile, North American carriers experienced a 1.5% year-on-year demand decrease.

Challenges Facing the Industry

Walsh also noted the recent disruptions at Heathrow, emphasizing the need for reforms to passenger rights regulations within the EU, which could affect the industry’s competitiveness.

The insights provided by IATA serve as a navigational guide for stakeholders in the aviation sector as they prepare for future trends and challenges in the air travel market.