Global Air Passenger Volumes Surge, with Load Factor at Record High

Global air passenger demand continues to surge, with latest figures showing a 10% year-on-year increase in passenger volumes in January, and a record load factor of 82.1%.

The monthly International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures show a 12.4% year-on-year rise in international flight demand and a 6.1% rise in domestic flight demand.

“We’ve seen a notable acceleration in demand this January, with a particularly strong performance by carriers based in the Asia-Pacific region. The record high load factors that accompany this strong demand are yet another reminder of the persistent supply chain issues in the aerospace sector,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“The strong growth in demand aligns with the results of our latest passenger survey (November 2024) in which 94% of travellers indicted that they planned to travel as much or more in the coming 12 months than they did in the past year. Airlines are doing a good job of accommodating growing demand amid fleet and infrastructure constraints with satisfaction levels above 95%, and nearly 80% of travellers agreeing that air travel is good value for money. Choice is an important component of this satisfaction. Some 70% prefer to pay the lowest fare and customise the additional services they need. It is important for regulators to clearly understand that the majority of travellers do not want to pay automatically for services they don’t need.”