The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for March 2024 global passenger demand. According to the data, “African airlines saw an 8.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 11.0% year-on-year. The load factor fell to 70.3% (-1.9ppt compared to March 2023).”
IATA says: “Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), was up 13.8% compared to March 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 12.3% year-on-year. The March load factor was 82.0% (+1.0ppt compared to March 2023).”
While “International demand rose 18.9% compared to March 2023; capacity was up 18.8% year-on-year and the load factor improved to 81.6% (+0.1ppt on March 2023).”
And “Domestic demand rose 6.6% compared to March 2023; capacity was up 3.4% year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6% (+2.5ppt compared to March 2023).”
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said: “Demand for travel is strong. And there is every indication that this should continue into the peak Northern Summer travel season. It is critical that we have the capacity to meet this demand and ensure a hassle-free travel experience for passengers. While airlines are prepared for customer care and assistance when operational issues arise, they are fed-up of bearing the cost when delays and cancellations are the result of poor preparation in other parts of the value chain.”
Air Passenger Market in Detail
| MARCH 2024 (% YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(LEVEL)3 |
| Total Market | 100% | 13.8% | 12.3% | 1.0% | 82.0% |
| Africa | 2.1% | 10.0% | 12.3% | -1.5% | 72.1% |
| Asia Pacific | 31.7% | 24.2% | 17.9% | 4.3% | 83.5% |
| Europe | 27.1% | 10.6% | 10.2% | 0.3% | 80.9% |
| Latin America | 5.5% | 10.9% | 8.8% | 1.5% | 83.1% |
| Middle East | 9.4% | 10.5% | 13.6% | -2.1% | 77.5% |
| North America | 24.2% | 6.3% | 7.6% | -1.0% | 83.7% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2023 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level