The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a significant increase in global air passenger demand for November 2025, rising 5.7% compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth was accompanied by a record-high load factor of 83.7%, reflecting airlines’ ability to satisfy surging passenger requests despite persistent aircraft manufacturing and supply chain challenges.
International travel demand increased by 7.7%, with capacity also expanding by 7.1%, indicating a balanced recovery in demand and supply. Airlines across various regions experienced varied performances: Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East saw demand growth, whereas North America experienced a slight decline in cargo demand. Cargo traffic, essential during the year-end holiday season, also grew 5.5% year-on-year, demonstrating resilience in the air freight segment amid global trade uncertainties.
Regional and Sector Performance
Airlines in Asia-Pacific achieved a demand increase of 10.3%, with capacity up 8.4%. European carriers showed demand growth of 5.8%, and Middle Eastern airlines saw an increase of 7.4%. Conversely, North American airlines experienced a 1.6% decrease in cargo demand, with capacity down 2.3%. Domestic markets also showed improvement, with notable growth in Brazil and India. Overall, the industry continues to recover, driven by elevated travel and trade activities worldwide.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, emphasized that despite capacity constraints, passenger demand remained strong and highlighted the need for increased aircraft production to meet future growth. He also pointed out the ongoing backlog of over 17,000 aircraft orders that must be addressed in 2026 to sustain the sector's momentum.
