Global Passenger Demand Reaches New High in September, IATA Says
Total passenger demand rose by 7.1% in September 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased by 5.8%, with an overall load factor of 83.6%—a 1.0 percentage point increase from September 2023.
International travel saw robust growth, with demand up by 9.2% year-on-year and capacity increasing by 9.1%. The load factor for international flights was 83.8%, slightly higher than the previous year. In the domestic market, demand grew by 3.7%, while capacity rose modestly by 0.7%, resulting in an 83.3% load factor—up by 2.4 percentage points.
IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, highlighted that this peak in travel demand bolsters global economic growth but also brings infrastructure challenges. He emphasized the need for governments to support sustainable growth and address potential capacity limitations that could impact economic benefits from aviation.
Regionally, Asia-Pacific led with an 18.5% increase in demand, while Europe posted a 7.6% rise with a strong load factor of 85.9%. Middle Eastern airlines saw a modest 4.4% growth, while North America had slower growth at 0.5%, with a slight drop in load factor. Latin American airlines achieved a 12.4% demand increase, and African carriers reported an 11.9% rise, with a notable load factor boost of 76.0%.
Domestic markets performed strongly across key regions, with record demand increases in all major markets except Japan. This trend reinforces the consistent rebound in air travel demand within countries as well as across borders.
IATA’s report underscores a crucial phase for global aviation, where demand recovery and economic contributions from the industry are met with the need for strategic capacity investments and sustainable policies.
