The International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s data for January 2025 global passenger demand shows that “African airlines saw a 14.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 11.2% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 75.9% (+2.4 ppt compared to January 2024).”
The data highlighted that: “Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 10.0% compared to January 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 7.1% year-on-year. The January load factor was 82.1% (+2.2 ppt compared to January 2024).”
The data also reports that “International demand rose 12.4% compared to January 2024. Capacity was up 8.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.6% (+2.7 ppt compared to January 2024)”, while “Domestic demandrose 6.1% compared to January 2024. Capacity was up 4.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 81.2% (+1.2 ppt compared to January 2024). All being recorded as “an an all-time high for January.”
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said: “We’ve seen a notable acceleration in demand this January, with a particularly strong performance by carriers based in the Asia-Pacific region. The record high load factors that accompany this strong demand are yet another reminder of the persistent supply chain issues in the aerospace sector.”
The DG notes that the strong growth in demand aligns with the results of IATA’s “latest passenger survey (November 2024) in which 94% of travelers indicted that they planned to travel as much or more in the coming 12 months than they did in the past year.”
He said: “Airlines are doing a good job of accommodating growing demand amid fleet and infrastructure constraints with satisfaction levels above 95%, and nearly 80% of travelers agreeing that air travel is good value for money. Choice is an important component of this satisfaction. Some 70% prefer to pay the lowest fare and customize the additional services they need. It is important for regulators to clearly understand that the majority of travelers do not want to pay automatically for services they don’t need.”
Air Passenger Market in Detail
| January 2025 (% year-on-year) | World Share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(Level)3 |
| Total Market | 100% | 10.0% | 7.1% | +2.2% | 82.1% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 15.0% | 11.5% | +2.3% | 75.9% |
| Asia Pacific | 33.5% | 16.1% | 11.6% | +3.3% | 84.2% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 7.4% | 5.3% | +1.5% | 79.8% |
| Latin America | 5.3% | 7.9% | 9.9% | -1.5% | 83.3% |
| Middle East | 9.4% | 9.6% | 4.3% | +4.0% | 83.9% |
| North America | 22.9% | 3.4% | 2.1% | +1.0% | 80.5% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2024 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level