IATA reports air passenger demand drops in June

IATA is reporting that air passenger demand dropped by 1.7% in June of this year. Highlights of the global airline association’s new data show that:

•  Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was down 1.7% compared to June 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand declined by 0.6%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), decreased 1.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.2% (-0.4 ppt compared to June 2025).
• International demand fell 0.9% compared to June 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.1%. Capacity was down 0.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.2% (-0.2 ppt compared to June 2025).
• Domestic demand contracted 3.0% compared to June 2025. Capacity decreased 2.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.0% (-0.5 ppt compared to June 2025).

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said that: “Global demand for air travel was down 1.7% in June compared to 2025. This is largely due to domestic market declines in China, the US, and Japan, and weak but improving international demand for Middle East carriers. While Middle East performance improved, renewed tensions will not help the region’s recovery and the knock-on impact of rising fuel prices will continue to burden travelers with higher airfares.”

Walsh continued: “People continue to travel, which is an important contributor to global economic growth. There is no doubt, however, that stabilizing the situation in the Middle East and normalizing oil supplies would improve prospects for airlines, economies, and societies the world over.”

Go to www.iata.org for more.