In a continuing trend, August international air demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers, was the "dominant driver of growth" for global air travel, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association.
August international demand was up 6.6 percent year over year, with global air demand up 4.6 percent compared with August 2024. The international traffic jump accounted for 87 percent of the net increase in global demand for the month, according to IATA. Domestic traffic "remained subdued" and increased 1.5 percent for the same period.
"Planes were operating with more seats filled than ever with a record load factor of 86 percent," according to IATA director general Wille Walsh.
August global capacity, as measured in available seat kilometers, increased 4.5 percent year over year. International capacity was up 6.5 percent, while domestic capacity increased 1.3 percent for the period.
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The region with the largest percentage global demand increase was Africa at 8.9 percent year over year, followed by the Middle East at 8.4 percent. North America lagged with a 0.5 percent increase versus August 2024. The Middle East also led with the largest regional increase in capacity, at 7 percent year over year.
Internationally, Asia-Pacific led the regions with a 9.8 percent year-over-year gain in air traffic, driven by strong demand from China and Japan, according to IATA. Latin America and the Caribbean followed with a 9 percent increase for the period. Each also led for capacity growth, at 9.5 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively. North America reported the lowest international demand growth at 1.8 percent. It also had the lowest percentage increase in capacity, at 2.6 percent growth from August 2024.
Brazil led the domestic markets with a 12.7 percent year-over-year increase in August demand, followed by Japan at 6 percent. The United States was the only country to report a traffic decline, at 0.2 percent year over year. Domestic capacity changes remained muted for August, with Brazil again the exception with an 8.1 percent increase versus August 2024. India declined 0.2 percent during the period, while U.S. capacity increased 1.1 percent.
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