Global air passenger demand up 8% in July

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Global air passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), in July 2024 was up 8% compared to July 2023, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data.

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 7.4% year-on-year. The July load factor was 86.0% (+0.5ppt compared to July 2023). There was no significant negative demand impact from the CrowdStrike IT outage on July 19, it said.

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 5.8% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.5% year-on-year and the load factor was 84.1% (+0.3ppt compared to July 2023).

International demand rose 10.1% compared to July 2023. Capacity was up 10.5% year-on-year and the load factor fell to 85.9% (-0.3ppt compared to July 2023).

Domestic demand rose 4.8% compared to July 2023. Capacity was up 2.8% year-on-year and the load factor was 86.1% (+1.7ppt compared to July 2023).

“July was another positive month. In fact, passenger demand hit an all-time high for the industry and in all regions except Africa, despite significant disruption caused by the CrowdStrike IT outage,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“The winding down of the peak northern summer season is a reminder of how much people depend on flying. As the mix of travelers shift from leisure to business, aviation’s many roles are evident—reuniting families, enabling exploration, and powering commerce. People need and want to fly. And they are doing that in great numbers. Load factors are at the practicable maximum. But persistent supply chain bottlenecks have made deploying the capacity to meet the need to travel more challenging. As much of the world returns from vacation, there is an urgent call for manufacturers and suppliers to resolve their supply chain issues so that air travel remains accessible and affordable to all those who rely on it,” said Walsh.

Regional Breakdown - International Passenger Markets

All regions showed strong growth for international passenger markets in July 2024 compared to July 2023, with signs that many markets are returning to long-term growth trends after the post-pandemic bounce back.

Asia-Pacific airlines’ growth remained strong, with a 19.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 20.3% year-on-year and the load factor was 83.8% (-0.8ppt compared to July 2023). Most Asia routes have yet to exceed 2019 levels, with the exception of the Asia-Middle East route.

European carriers saw an 8.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 8.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.5% (+0.2ppt compared to July 2023). In terms of major international routes, the Europe-Asia route expanded fastest, reflecting this is still to surpass 2019 levels.

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 5.8% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.5% year-on-year and the load factor was 84.1% (+0.3ppt compared to July 2023).

North American carriers saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 89.4% (-0.8 ppt compared to July 2023), the highest among regions.

Latin American airlines saw a 13.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 15.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 87.5% (-1.7ppt compared to July 2023). While hurricane Beryl had a strong localized impact in parts of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and southern United States, this did not significantly dampen demand region-wide.

African airlines saw a 7.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.7% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 74.3% (+0.5ppt compared to July 2023).

Domestic markets

Domestic demand increased in July, with solid growth resulting in all key markets, bar India, reaching all-time highs. Brazil once again expanded fastest, while Japan and Australia rebounded from the previous month’s negative growth.