African airlines recorded a 6.7 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger demand in June 2026, outperforming most major international markets even as global air travel demand declined by 1.7 per cent, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Capacity among African carriers also increased by 7.0 per cent during the month, while the passenger load factor stood at 74.2 per cent, representing a marginal 0.3 percentage-point decline compared with June 2025.
The performance placed Africa among the strongest-performing regional markets during the month, alongside Latin America, where passenger demand increased by 3.5 per cent. European airlines recorded 1.5 per cent growth, while Asia-Pacific carriers posted a 0.4 per cent increase. North American carriers recorded a 1.0 per cent decline, while Middle Eastern airlines experienced a sharper 14 per cent fall in demand.
Globally, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), fell 1.7 per cent compared with June 2025. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), declined by 1.3 per cent, while the global passenger load factor dropped 0.4 percentage points to 84.2 per cent.
International passenger demand declined by 0.9 per cent globally, although excluding the Middle East, international traffic increased by 1.1 per cent. International capacity fell 0.6 per cent, resulting in a load factor of 84.2 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points year-on-year.
IATA attributed the overall decline in global passenger demand largely to weaker domestic markets in China, the United States and Japan, alongside the continued impact of disruptions affecting Middle Eastern carriers.
“Global demand for air travel was down 1.7% in June compared to 2025. This is largely due to domestic market declines in China, the US, and Japan, and weak but improving international demand for Middle East carriers,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Walsh noted that renewed tensions in the Middle East could hamper the region’s recovery while higher fuel prices continue to place pressure on airlines and passengers through increased operating costs and airfares.
Despite the challenging global environment, several international markets recorded growth. European carriers increased demand by 1.5 per cent, supported by an 11 per cent rise in traffic on the Europe-Asia corridor, the strongest growth among major international routes. Latin American airlines recorded 3.5 per cent demand growth, although their 6.3 per cent capacity increase resulted in a lower load factor of 81.6 per cent.
Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 0.4 per cent increase in international demand, while capacity declined by 1.1 per cent. The region’s international load factor improved by 1.3 percentage points to 84.0 per cent. However, capacity on international routes within Asia fell by 4.8 per cent as some airlines reduced short-haul services in response to higher fuel prices.
North American carriers recorded a 1.0 per cent decline in international demand, with capacity also falling by 0.7 per cent. The region nevertheless maintained a high load factor of 86.9 per cent.
Middle Eastern airlines remained the most severely affected market, with demand falling 14 per cent and capacity declining 11 per cent. The resulting load factor stood at 76.3 per cent, down 2.6 percentage points from June 2025. IATA said the figures continue to reflect the impact of the conflict in the region, although the rate of decline has halved since April as airline operations gradually normalize.
Domestic passenger demand also weakened globally, falling 3.0 per cent year-on-year in June, while domestic capacity declined 2.4 per cent. Brazil was the only major domestic market, apart from Australia, to record growth, with traffic increasing 0.9 per cent. China and Japan recorded the steepest declines, at 5.2 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively.
According to IATA, continued passenger demand demonstrates the importance of air travel to global economic activity, although the industry remains exposed to geopolitical instability and fuel market volatility.
“People continue to travel, which is an important contributor to global economic growth,” Walsh said, adding that stabilising the situation in the Middle East and restoring more normal oil supplies would improve prospects for airlines, economies and societies globally.
