GENEVA, 31st August 2025 (WAM) — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Sunday that global passenger demand grew by 4 percent in July.
The IATA released data for July 2025 global passenger demand. Following are the highlights:
• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 4.0 percent compared to July 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 4.4 percent year-on-year. The July load factor was 85.5 percent (-0.4 ppt compared to July 2024).
• International demand rose 5.3 percent compared to July 2024. Capacity was up 5.8 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6 percent (-0.4 ppt compared to July 2024).
• Domestic demand increased 1.9 percent compared to July 2024. Capacity was up 2.4 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 85.2 percent (-0.4 ppt compared to July 2024).
International RPK growth reached 5.3 percent in July year-on-year, but load factors fell in all regions except Africa. Domestic RPK rose 1.9 percent over July 2024 and load factor fell by 0.4 ppt to 85.2 percent on the back of a 2.4 percent capacity expansion. Brazil was once again the strongest performer. Japan’s 81.4 percent load factor is a record high for July since at least the year 2000.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose by 5.6 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.1 percent (-0.2 ppt compared to July 2024). Middle East growth rebounded after the disruptions caused by the military conflict in June.
“It’s been a good northern summer season for airlines. Momentum has grown over the peak season with July demand reaching 4 percent growth. That trend appears across all regions and is particularly evident for international travel, which strengthened from 3.9 percent growth in June to 5.3 percent in July. Moreover, with flight volumes showing a 2 percent year-on-year increase for September after five months of decelerating growth, airlines are positioned to take advantage of this market momentum into the coming months,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
