Full-year 2024 air demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers, set records for both domestic and international traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Total 2024 traffic increased 10.4 percent year over year and was 3.8 percent above the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, according to IATA. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, was up 8.7 percent compared with 2023. Overall passenger load factor reached 83.5 percent, a record for full-year traffic.
The Asia-Pacific region logged the largest percentage 2024 demand increase at 16.9 percent year over year and largest percentage capacity increase at 12.3 percent versus 2023. Regional passenger load factors surpassed 80 percent for all but Africa (74.9 percent).
International demand in 2024 increased 13.6 percent year over year with capacity up 12.8 percent. Domestic demand in 2024 increased 5.7 percent compared with 2023, while capacity increased 2.5 percent.
"2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. "With 10.4 percent demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency."
December 2024 also had a "strong finish" with total demand increasing 8.6 percent year over year and capacity up 5.6 percent, according to IATA. December international demand increased 10.6 percent compared with December 2023, while domestic demand was up 5.5 percent. Total market load factor reached 84 percent, a 2.3 percentage-point increase from a year prior and a record for December.
[Report continues below chart.]
December total market passenger load factors increased for all regions compared with December 2023. Further, passenger load factors in each region except North America were higher than in 2019, according to IATA.
Asia-Pacific and European carriers contributed to most of the net increase in December international traffic, according to IATA, with year-over-year demand in those regions increasing 17.1 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. North American December demand increased 5.1 percent year over year, which was a "significant acceleration compared to November."
For December domestic demand, China had the highest year-over-year increase at 8.5 percent. United States demand increased 6.4 percent compared with December 2023, reversing a trend reported in October and November.
"Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8 percent that is more aligned with historical averages," Walsh said.
RELATED: IATA: Europe, Asia-Pac Drive November Int'l Air Demand