IATA: Int'l Demand Paces July Air Travel Growth

July global air passenger demand as measured in revenue passenger kilometers increased 8 percent year over year, pushed by another double-digit increase in international demand, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Passenger demand reached an "all time high for the industry and in all regions except Africa," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement.

International demand in July increased 10.1 percent year over year, IATA noted, while international capacity as measured in available seat kilometers increased 7.4 percent. Global international load factor decreased 0.3 percentage points to 85.9 percent. 

July domestic demand increased 4.8 percent year over year while domestic capacity increased 2.8 percent and load factor increased 1.7 percentage points to 86.1 percent.

Overall July global capacity increased 7.4 percent year over year.

"People need and want to fly. And they are doing that in great numbers. Load factors are at the practicable maximum," according to Walsh. "But persistent supply chain bottlenecks have made deploying the capacity to meet the need to travel more challenging. As much of the world returns from vacation, there is an urgent call for manufacturers and suppliers to resolve their supply chain issues so that air travel remains accessible and affordable to all those who rely on it."

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Total July regional demand and capacity increased most rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region, where demand increased 12 percent year over year and capacity grew 9.8 percent. Overall demand and capacity each grew at least 4.9 percent in every region. 

The Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions in July each recorded double-digit-percentage year-over-year increases in international demand capacity. Brazil led domestic markets with a demand increase of 8.9 percent and a capacity increase of 7.1 percent.

 IATA June 2024 air passenger demand figures