The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported steady growth in global passenger traffic for October 2024, with data showing a 7.1% increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) compared to October 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), grew 6.1% year-on-year, and the global load factor reached 83.9%, reflecting an increase of 0.8 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
International passenger demand saw a 9.5% rise compared to October 2023. Capacity increased 8.6% year-on-year, while the load factor reached 83.5%, showing a slight improvement of 0.6 percentage points. Domestic demand also grew by 3.5%, with capacity increasing by 2.0%. The domestic load factor rose to 84.5%, up by 1.2 percentage points year-on-year.
Regional Performance in International Passenger Markets
All regions experienced growth in international passenger demand during October 2024. Europe achieved the highest load factors, while Africa recorded the sharpest increase in demand. However, the Americas and the Middle East experienced smaller year-on-year growth in passenger traffic.
In the Asia-Pacific region, airlines recorded a strong 17.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity in the region grew by 17.2%, and the load factor improved to 82.9%, up by 0.3 percentage points. European carriers saw an 8.7% rise in demand, with capacity up by 7.3%. Their load factor increased to 85.7%, showing a growth of 1.1 percentage points.
Middle Eastern airlines recorded a 2.2% rise in demand, accompanied by a 2.5% increase in capacity. However, the load factor decreased slightly to 80.2%, reflecting a decline of 0.2 percentage points. North American carriers achieved a 3.2% rise in demand, with capacity up by 2.9%. The region’s load factor improved slightly to 84.2%, showing a marginal gain of 0.3 percentage points. This reflects the ongoing changes in regional passenger traffic patterns.
Latin American airlines posted a 10.9% increase in demand. Capacity climbed 11.6%, although the load factor dipped by 0.6 percentage points to 85.3%. African airlines experienced a 10.4% rise in demand, with capacity growing by 5.3%. The load factor in Africa rose significantly to 73.2%, up by 3.4 percentage points year-on-year.
Domestic Markets Show Mixed Trends
The domestic sector displayed a mixed performance in October 2024. China led the growth among domestic markets with a 9.7% increase in demand, driven by the use of wide-body aircraft. However, the United States saw a slight decline in domestic demand, contrasting with stable growth in other key markets. Domestic passenger traffic trends highlight these variances.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, emphasized the importance of maintaining high load factors for efficiency and environmental benefits. “Continued strong and stable demand is good news, but just as important is the steady improvement in load factors. It shows what a great job the industry is doing in flying people more efficiently. Average seat factors have risen from around 67% in the 1990’s to over 83% today. Politicians thinking of trying to tax passengers off planes to reduce emissions would do well to note this. Even if fewer people fly because taxes make it too expensive, it doesn’t automatically mean reduced emissions because the planes will still fly, just with fewer passengers. That would reverse decades of hard-won progress. We need to see the planes full to generate the economic and social benefits of travel with the most minimal emissions possible,” he said.
The IATA data reflects a stable recovery trend in the aviation sector, with RPK surpassing historical highs. International traffic within Europe remains robust, while North American international markets continue to show strength. Growth momentum in Asia-Pacific international routes also persists. Domestic markets, led by China, display signs of resilience and stability. Overall, the data underscores the positive trajectory in global passenger traffic.
