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Global air passenger demand soars to new highs in 2024, IATA reports

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its full-year and December 2024 global passenger market performance data, showing record-high demand for air travel.

Total passenger traffic for 2024, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), rose by 10.4% compared to 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 3.8%. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased by 8.7%, with an overall load factor reaching a record 83.5%.

IATA’s numbers show that international air travel saw significant gains in 2024, with traffic rising 13.6% year-on-year and capacity increasing by 12.8%. Meanwhile, domestic travel also grew, with a 5.7% increase in demand and a 2.5% rise in capacity.

December 2024 capped off the year with an 8.6% increase in total passenger traffic compared to December 2023. International demand rose by 10.6%, while domestic demand climbed 5.5%. The December load factor reached 84%, setting a new record for the month.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, 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. Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more.”

Walsh added: “Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8.0% that is more aligned with historical averages. The desire to partake in the freedom that flying makes possible brings some challenges into sharp focus.

“First, the tragic accident in Washington last night (January 29) reminds us that safety needs our continuous efforts. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will never cease our work to make aviation ever safer.

“Second is the airlines’ firm commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. While airlines invested record amounts in purchases of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2024, less than 0.5% of fuel needs were meet with SAF. SAF is in short supply and costs must come down.”

Walsh continued: “Governments could fortify their national energy security and unblock this problem by prioritising renewable fuel production from which SAF is derived. In addition to securing energy supplies and increasing the SAF supply, diverting a fraction of the subsidies given for fossil fuel extraction to support renewable energy capacity would also boost prosperity through economic expansion and job creation.”

Regional performance highlights

IATA’s data shows all regions experienced growth in international travel:

Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with a 26.0% rise in international traffic compared to 2023, though demand remains 8.7% below 2019 levels. December traffic in the region increased by 17.1% year-on-year.
European carriers saw a 9.7% increase in full-year traffic, with capacity rising by 9.2% and load factor improving to 84.1%.
Middle Eastern airlines recorded a 9.4% increase in annual traffic, with an 8.4% rise in capacity and a load factor of 80.8%.
North American carriers posted a 6.8% increase in traffic, though their load factor dipped slightly to 84.2%.
Latin American airlines reported a 14.4% increase in traffic, with a load factor of 84.8%, the highest among all regions.
African airlines saw a 13.2% increase in traffic, reaching a record-high regional load factor of 74.5%.

Domestic travel trends

According to IATA’s figures, domestic air travel also saw record demand and load factors in 2024. China remained the strongest domestic market, with RPKs rising 12.3% year-on-year. Japan recorded a modest 3.2% increase in demand, despite a slight contraction in capacity. India’s load factor declined slightly but remained the highest among domestic markets at 86.4%.

IATA’s latest figures highlight a robust rebound for the aviation industry, with continued strong demand across international and domestic markets.

READ MORE NEWS: 2024 was ‘a year of profitable growth’ for air cargo, claims IATA

 

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