IATA reports air passenger demand continues to grow

In its latest data release, IATA reports that global air passenger demand continued to grow in November 2025.

Highlights of the new data reveal that:

• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 5.7% compared to November 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 5.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.7% (+0.3 ppt compared to November 2024), a record high for November.
• International demand rose 7.7% compared to November 2024. Capacity was up 7.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.0% (+0.4 ppt compared to November 2024).
• Domestic demand increased 2.7% compared to November 2024. Capacity was up 2.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.2% (unchanged compared to November 2024).

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said that: “November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year-on-year growth of 5.7%. Load factors reached a new record of 83.7% for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain.”

And Walsh continued: “The new year’s resolution for the manufacturing sector must be to increase production to meet the needs of their airline customers. The backlog of more than 17,000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026.”