The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its report on passenger traffic for February 2025. Global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 6.1% compared to February 2024. Overall airline capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 5.6%, and the passenger load factor reached 81.4%, the highest ever recorded for a February. International air traffic demand grew by 5.9%, while domestic demand saw a solid increase of 6.3%. Latin American airlines led the growth with a 13.5% annual increase in demand. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, with demand up by 8.6%, boosted by travel for the Lunar New Year. Conversely, airlines in the Middle East recorded the weakest growth, with demand increasing by just 0.9%, while fuel costs have surged. IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that the war in the Middle East creates uncertainty for the aviation industry, but it is already clear that with limited capacity and reduced margins, airfares are rising. He emphasized that without knowing the duration and intensity of the conflict, it is impossible to quantify the total impact on airline prospects. 'With a 6.1% expansion in RPK, February was a solid month, demonstrating that the fundamentals for demand growth and a positive year were in place,' said Walsh.
