The International Air Transport Association (IATA) data for May 2026 global passenger demand shows that “African airlines saw an 8.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 8.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 73.4% (+0.4 ppt compared to May 2025).”
The data also revealed that, “Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was down 2.2% compared to May 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.7%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 2.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to May 2025), a record high for May, International demand fell 1.6% compared to May 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 3.1%. Capacity was down 2.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.7% (+0.7 ppt compared to May 2025) and Domestic demand contracted 3.1% compared to May 2025. Capacity decreased 2.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.0% (-0.8 ppt compared to May 2025).”
IATA’s Director General, Mr. Willie Walsh said: “Air passenger demand was down 2.2% year-on-year in May on the impact of war in the Middle East. The decline was centered on carriers in the Middle East with a 28.4% year-on-year fall. That’s a significant improvement on the 46.6% decline recorded for April, a sign of the region’s resilience. Notably, we also saw year-on-year contractions in demand in both North America and Asia, largely related to domestic market conditions in the US and China.”
Mr. Walsh added that “Overall, May demand still appeared to be largely resilient in the face of high fuel prices and air fares. While the recent sharp drop in oil prices is an encouraging development, the challenges created by the war will likely persist for some time. Oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain and it is likely to take time before the benefit of lower oil prices is reflected in ‘normalized’ jet fuel pricing. In the meantime, airlines who are operating on a 2.0% margin will have little choice but to continue testing demand resilience with higher fares that attempt to cover elevated fuel costs.”
Air Passenger Market in Detail
| May 2026 (% year-on-year) | World Share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(Level)3 |
| Total Market | 100% | -2.2% | -2.3% | 0.1 | 83.5% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 6.6% | 7.0% | -0.3 | 73.7% |
| Asia-Pacific | 34.4% | -1.4% | -2.4% | 0.9 | 84.3% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.8 | 85.9% |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 5.4% | 6.1% | 4.6% | 1.2 | 83.4% |
| Middle East | 9.5% | -28.4% | -23.9% | -4.7 | 75.9% |
| North America | 21.8% | -0.8% | 0.1% | -0.7 | 82.8% |
1) % of industry RPK in 2025 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
Source: IATA