According to the monthly report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), published today, total global demand for air travel, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 3.6% in September 2024 compared to September 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 3.7% year-on-year, and the load factor for September was 83.4%, just 0.1 percentage points lower than in September 2023. International demand grew by 5.1% compared to September 2023, while domestic demand increased by 0.9%. International demand was the main driver of 90% of the overall growth. The Asia-Pacific region achieved a significant demand increase of 7.4%, driven primarily by travel within China and Japan. European airlines also reported a demand increase of 4.0%, despite unresolved supply chain issues. In contrast, demand for air travel in North America fell by 1.7%, resulting in the lowest load factor among major domestic markets. 'Strong international demand drove 90% of the overall 3.6% growth,' said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. 'Nevertheless, load factors remained very high at 83.4%. The only region to show a significant improvement in load factor was Asia-Pacific.'
