The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported continued growth in global passenger demand for October 2024. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 7.1% compared to October 2023, while capacity grew by 6.1%. The load factor rose to 83.9%, reflecting a 0.8 percentage point improvement year-on-year.
International passenger demand rose by 9.5%, with capacity increasing by 8.6%, and the load factor reaching 83.5%. Meanwhile, domestic passenger demand grew by 3.5%, with capacity up by 2.0%, and the load factor climbing to 84.5%.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, emphasized the importance of maintaining high load factors to ensure efficiency and minimize emissions. He noted that the average seat factor has improved significantly over the decades, rising from about 67% in the 1990s to over 83% today, underscoring the industry’s commitment to efficiency.
All regions recorded growth in international passenger markets compared to October 2023. Asia-Pacific airlines led with a 17.5% increase in demand, followed by European carriers with an 8.7% rise. African airlines saw a 10.4% increase in demand, coupled with a sharp rise in load factor to 73.2%. North American and Latin American carriers posted more modest growth of 3.2% and 10.9%, respectively. Middle Eastern airlines recorded a smaller 2.2% increase.
In the domestic market, while most regions experienced stable growth, the U.S. market showed a slight decline. China’s domestic demand continued to grow rapidly, driven by the increased use of wide-body aircraft.
This steady rise in demand and load factors highlights the aviation industry’s resilience and its efforts to operate more efficiently, contributing to the economic and social benefits of global travel.
