The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a record high increase in global air passenger demand for the year 2024, with figures exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
The total traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), increased by 10.4% compared to 2023, and a 3.8% rise above the figures recorded in 2019.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased by 8.7%, while the overall load factor also reached a new high of 83.5%.
International traffic saw a 13.6% rise over the previous year, with capacity expanding by 12.8%. Domestic traffic increased by 5.7% compared to 2023 with capacity rising by 2.5%.
In 2024, international traffic surpassed the 2019 peak by 0.5%, with all regions experiencing growth, although capacity remained 0.9% lower than 2019 levels.
Asia-Pacific airlines led the growth with a 26% increase in international traffic, despite international RPKs remaining 8.7% below 2019 levels.
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles
on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Company Profile – free
sample
Your download email will arrive shortly
We are confident about the
unique
quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most
beneficial
decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by
submitting the below form
By GlobalData
European carriers saw a 9.7% rise in traffic, while Middle Eastern airlines experienced a 9.4% increase. North American carriers reported a 6.8% rise in traffic, though their load factor slightly decreased.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said: “2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel. With 10.4% demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally.
“Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5% of all seats on offer were filled—a new record high, partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth.”
Latin American airlines demonstrated a 14.4% rise in traffic, achieving the highest load factor among the regions at 84.8%. African airlines also saw an increase in traffic by 13.2%, with a load factor of 74.5%, a record high for the region.
In the domestic market, China led the pack with a 12.3% increase in domestic RPK over 2023.
Japan and other major domestic markets also showed stable growth. India, despite a slight decrease in load factor, maintained the highest load factor among all domestic markets at 86.4%.
This week, IATA reported an 11.3% rise in global air cargo demand for 2024, surpassing the peak volumes of 2021.
Sign up for our daily news round-up!
Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights.
