IATA: global passenger demand up 10 percent in January 2025

The post IATA: global passenger demand up 10 percent in January 2025 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its global passenger demand data from January 2025, showing a growth of 10 percent in terms of total demand in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs).

January 2025 figures were significantly higher than the total recorded in January 2024. with the following highlights:

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 7.1 percent year-on-year, while the load factor was 82.1 percent, an all-time high for January.

International demand rose 12.4 percent compared to January 2024, while capacity was up 8.7 percent year-on-year with the load factor at 82.6 percent.

Meanwhile, domestic demand was up 6.1 percent compared to January 2024, with capacity up by 4.5 percent year-on-year and the load factor at 81.2 percent.

Both international and domestic demand marked an all time high for January.

Greater demand, particularly within APAC

IATA director-general Willie Walsh remarked that there was a notable acceleration in demand this January, with a particularly strong performance by carriers based in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Walsh said: “The record high load factors that accompany this strong demand are yet another reminder of the persistent supply chain issues in the aerospace sector.

The strong growth in demand aligns with the results of IATA’s latest passenger survey in late 2024 wherein 94 percent of travellers indicated that they planned to travel as much or more in the coming 12 months than they did in the past year. 

Walsh added: “Airlines are doing a good job of accommodating growing demand amid fleet and infrastructure constraints with satisfaction levels above 95 percent, and nearly 80 percent of travellers agreeing that air travel is good value for money. Choice is an important component of this satisfaction. It is also important for regulators to clearly understand that the majority of travelers do not want to pay automatically for services they don’t need.”

Regional market performance in January 2025

All regions showed growth for international passenger markets in January 2025 compared to January 2024, with Asia-Pacific demand particularly strong. 

All markets except Europe and North America showed strong acceleration in January compared to December 2024. 

Load factors rose year-on-year in all markets except Latin America.

• Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 21.8% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 16.5% year-on-year and the load factor was 86.7% (+3.8 ppt compared to January 2024). Traffic from Northeast Asia was particularly strong.
• European carriers had an 8.6% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.2% (+1.8 ppt compared to January 2024).
• Middle Eastern carriers saw a 9.6% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.4% year-on-year and the load factor was 83.8% (+4.0 ppt compared to January 2024). Results in this region have been underpinned by a gradual return of traffic in Israel, and strong performance of the Gulf carriers.
• North American carriers saw a 3.8% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 0.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.8% (+2.6 ppt compared to January 2024).
• Latin American airlines saw a 12.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 15.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.3% (-1.9 ppt compared to January 2024).
• African airlines saw a 14.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 11.2% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 75.9% (+2.4 ppt compared to January 2024).

The domestic passenger market in January 

Domestic RPK increased 6.1 percent over the previous year, reflecting particularly strong growth in India, Japan and China. 

China’s growth of ten percent was driven by record numbers traveling for the Lunar New Year.  

Also, load factors continued to edge up, hitting a record high of 81.2 percent for January.

The post IATA: global passenger demand up 10 percent in January 2025 appeared first on Travel Daily Media.