African airlines saw a 9.5% increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.2%, and load factor was 74.9% (+2.2 ppt). Africa–Asia is the fastest-growing international corridor, with a 15.9% expansion.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for May 2025 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
- Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 5.0% compared to May 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was also up 5.0% year-on-year. The May load factor was 83.4% (-0.1 ppt compared to May 2024).
- International demand rose 6.7% compared to May 2024. Capacity was up 6.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.2% (+0.2 ppt compared to May 2024). This is a record load factor on international flights for May.
- Domestic demand increased 2.1% compared to May 2024. Capacity was up 2.8% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.7% (-0.5 ppt compared to May 2024).
“Air travel demand growth was uneven in May. Globally, the industry reported 5% growth with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4%. The outlier was North America which reported a 0.5% decline, led by a 1.7% fall in the US domestic market. Severe disruptions in the Middle East in late June remind us that geopolitical instability remains a challenge in some regions as airlines maintain safe operations with minimal passenger inconvenience. The impact of such instability on oil prices—which remained low throughout May—is also a critical factor to monitor. Importantly, consumer confidence appears to be strong with forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season, giving good reason for optimism,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Air Passenger Market in Detail – May 2025
| May 2025 (% year-on-year) | World share¹ | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-pt) | PLF (level) |
| Total Market | 100% | 5.0% | 5.0% | -0.1% | 83.4% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 7.5% | 4.6% | 2.0% | 75.3% |
| Asia Pacific | 33.6% | 9.4% | 7.1% | 1.8% | 83.8% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 3.4% | 3.9% | -0.4% | 84.7% |
| Latin America | 5.3% | 8.5% | 9.6% | -0.8% | 82.2% |
| Middle East | 9.4% | 6.2% | 6.7% | -0.4% | 80.7% |
| North America | 22.9% | -0.5% | 2.0% | -2.1% | 83.4% |
¹% of industry RPKs in 2024
Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets
- Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 13.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 10.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.0% (+2.0 ppt).
- European carriers had a 4.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.8%, and load factor was 84.0% (-0.6 ppt).
- North American carriers saw a 1.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 1.7%, and load factor was 83.8% (-0.3 ppt).
- Middle Eastern carriers saw a 6.2% increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.3%, and load factor was 80.9% (-0.1 ppt).
- Latin American airlines saw an 8.8% increase in demand. Capacity climbed 11.0%, and load factor was 83.6% (-1.7 ppt).
- African airlines saw a 9.5% increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.2%, and load factor was 74.9% (+2.2 ppt). Africa–Asia is the fastest-growing international corridor, with a 15.9% expansion.
Traffic expansion on most key international routes to the Americas slowed in May, apart from Transatlantic, which recorded a modest 2.5% increase.
Domestic Passenger Markets
Domestic RPK rose 2.1% over May 2024, while the load factor fell -0.5 ppt to 83.7% due to a 2.8% capacity increase.
| May 2025 (% year-on-year) | World share¹ | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-pt) | PLF (level) |
| Domestic Total | 38.2% | 2.1% | 2.8% | -0.5% | 83.7% |
| Dom. Australia | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 79.2% |
| Dom. Brazil | 1.1% | 18.3% | 15.7% | 1.8% | 81.2% |
| Dom. China P.R. | 11.3% | 7.4% | 4.8% | 2.0% | 84.3% |
| Dom. India | 1.6% | 3.1% | 9.6% | -5.3% | 83.5% |
| Dom. Japan | 1.0% | 5.8% | -1.1% | 5.0% | 76.9% |
| Dom. US | 14.4% | -1.7% | 2.0% | -3.1% | 83.0% |
¹% of industry RPKs in 2024
Note: These six domestic passenger markets account for approximately 30.2% of global total RPKs and 79.1% of total domestic RPKs.
