Airlines

Passenger demand up 8.1% in November, IATA data reveals

Recent findings from the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) November 2024 data show that global passenger demand was up 8.1 per cent compared to November 2023.

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 5.7 per cent year-on-year. The November load factor was 83.4 per cent (+1.9 ppt compared to November 2023), an all-time high for November.

Additional findings include:

  • International demand rose 11.6 per cent compared to November 2023. Capacity was up 8.6 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.4 per cent (+2.3 ppt compared to November 2023). Strong performance by carriers in Europe and Asia-Pacific drove this double-digit expansion in demand.
  • Domestic demand rose 3.1 per cent compared to November 2023. Capacity was up 1.5 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 83.5 per cent (+1.2 ppt compared to November 2023).

“November was another month of strong growth in the demand for air travel with an overall expansion of 8.1%. The month was also another reminder of the supply chain issues that are preventing airlines from getting the aircraft they need to meet growing demand,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. “Capacity growth is lagging demand by 2.4 ppts and load factors are at record levels. Airlines are missing out on opportunities to better serve customers, modernize their products and improve their environmental performance because aircraft are not being delivered on time. The 2025 New Year’s resolution for the aerospace manufacturing sector must be finding a fast and durable solution for their supply chain issues.”

International passenger markets

All regions showed growth for international passenger markets in November 2024 compared to November 2023. Europe had the highest load factors (85 per cent) while Asia-Pacific led on growth with a 19.9 per cent year-on-year expansion in demand.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 19.9 per centyear-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 16.2 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 84.9 per cent (+2.6 ppt compared to November 2023).

European carriers had a 9.4 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.1 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85 per cent (+1.8 ppt compared to November 2023).

Middle Eastern carriers saw an 8.7 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 3.9 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 81 per cent (+3.6 ppt compared to November 2023).

North American carriers saw a 3.1 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 1.6 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 81 per cent (+1.1 ppt compared to November 2023).

Latin American airlines saw an 11.4 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 11.9 per cent year-on-year. The load factor was 84.4 per cent (-0.4 ppt compared to November 2023).

African airlines saw a 12.4 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.0 per cent year-on-year. The load factor rose to 72.9 per cent (+4.1 ppt compared to November 2023).

Domestic passenger markets

Domestic RPK increased 3.1 per cent over the previous year, decelerating slightly from the 3.5 per cent growth posted in October.

Signs of stable growth were shown in all markets except in the US which saw a 2.7 per cent contraction, deeper than the 1.2 per cent year-on-year dip recorded in October.

This is part of a slowing trend in the U.S. domestic market since June 2024 and mainly reflects lower low-cost carrier activity. U.S. mainline carriers have continued to see growth over the same period.