Total April air passenger traffic demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers, increased 8 percent year over year, according to the International Air Transport Association. The growth was driven primarily by international demand, which was up 10.8 percent year over year for the month. Domestic demand also increased, but at the lower rate of 3.3 percent.
Total April capacity, as measured in available seat kilometers, increased 6.5 percent year over year, with the April load factor up 1.1 percentage points to 83.6 percent compared with April 2024. International capacity increased 8.5 percent, with its load factor up 1.7 percentage points to 84.1 percent. Domestic capacity rose 3.1 percent, while its load factor remained stable, gaining 0.1 percentage points to 82.7 percent.
"April was a positive month for travel. Growth strengthened, especially for international demand, which saw record load factors for the month," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. "The return of the transatlantic market to growth is particularly encouraging. But there are some signs of fragility of consumer and business confidence with continued weakness in the U.S. domestic market and a sharp fall in North American premium-class travel."
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Total April air demand by region showed year-over-year growth rates in the double-digit or high single-digit percentages, save for North America, which reported a traffic increase of 1.6 percent year over year. It also was the only region to see a decline in load factor, losing 1.3 percentage points to 81.9 percent compared with April 2024.
Each of the international regions reported by IATA posted demand increases for April, including North America, with a gain of 5.4 percent year over year, after it had declined in each of the two prior months. Still, the region's demand for first and business class declined 26 percent year over year, according to IATA.
April capacity also increased for each international region and was led by Latin America with a gain of 14.6 percent compared with April 2024. North America had the lowest capacity increase at 2.6 percent. Load factor in all regions save for Latin America increased.
For April domestic demand, the United States was the only country to report a decline, at 0.5 percent year over year. This was the country's third monthly traffic decline in a row. Brazil reported the highest traffic gain at 13.5 percent compared with April 2024. Capacity increased for each country, except Australia, which reported a drop of 2.2 percent. India capacity grew the most, at 11.3 percent. Domestic load factors increased for four of the six reporting countries, with India down 0.9 percentage points to 85.7 percent, but that still was the highest load factor for the domestic markets. The U.S. load factor was down 3.1 percentage points to 80.6 percent.
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