Global aviation takes off: October demand surges worldwide

Middle East's airline traffic grew by 2.2% in October 2024, as global demand for air travel continued to rise, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA's latest data reveals a worldwide increase in passenger traffic, with total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), up by 7.1% compared to October 2023.

Middle East airlines and global metrics

Middle Eastern airlines reported a 2.2% year-on-year increase in demand, alongside a 2.5% rise in capacity. However, the load factor, which measures seat occupancy, slightly dipped to 80.2% (-0.2 percentage points) compared to October 2023.

Globally, international capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 6.1% year-on-year, with the load factor climbing to 83.9% (+0.8 percentage points) compared to October 2023. International demand saw a 9.5% increase, while capacity grew 8.6%, resulting in a load factor of 83.5% (+0.6 percentage points).

Domestic air travel demand increased by 3.5% compared to October 2023, with capacity rising 2.0% year-on-year. The domestic load factor improved to 84.5% (+1.2 percentage points).

Regional highlights

All regions recorded year-on-year growth in international passenger traffic in October 2024:

• Asia-Pacific airlines saw a remarkable 17.5% increase in demand, with capacity up 17.2% and a load factor of 82.9% (+0.3 percentage points).
• European carriers reported an 8.7% rise in demand, a 7.3% capacity increase, and the highest load factor at 85.7% (+1.1 percentage points).
• North American airlines experienced a 3.2% demand growth, with capacity up 2.9% and a load factor of 84.2% (+0.3 percentage points).
• Latin American airlines posted a 10.9% rise in demand, with capacity growing 11.6%. However, the load factor dropped slightly to 85.3% (-0.6 percentage points).
• African airlines saw a 10.4% demand increase, capacity rising 5.3%, and a significant load factor improvement to 73.2% (+3.4 percentage points).

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, highlighted the industry’s efficiency, noting that average load factors have risen significantly from around 67% in the 1990s to over 83% today. He emphasized the importance of strong demand and steady improvements in load factors.

While Europe led in load factors and Africa experienced sharp growth, the Americas and Middle East faced declines in their load factors.