Air travel demand grows 2.6% worldwide, hobbled by Middle East conflict
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Air travel demand grew 2.6% globally in June, at a slower pace than in previous months, caused by the Middle East conflict which pits Israel against Hamas in Palestine.
Data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that total demand in June 2025, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 2.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) compared to June 2024.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was also up 3.4 per cent YoY. June 2025 load factor was 84.5 per cent (-0.6 per cent against June 2024).
International demand rose 3.2 per cent versus June 2024. Capacity YoY was up 4.2 per cent, and load factor was 84.4 per cent (-0.8 per cent compared to June 2024).
Domestic demand increased 1.6 per cent compared to June 2024. Capacity rose 2.1 per cent YoY. Load factor was 84.7 per cent (-0.4 per cent compared to June 2024).
“In June, demand for air travel grew by 2.6 per cent. That’s a slower pace than we have seen in previous months and reflects disruptions around military conflict in the Middle East,” explained IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
“With demand growth lagging the 3.4 per cent capacity expansion, load factors dipped 0.6 percentage points from their all-time record-high levels.
“At 84.5 per cent globally, however, load factors are still very strong.
“And with a modest 1.8 per cent capacity growth visible in August schedules, load factors over the Northern summer are unlikely to stray far from their recent historic highs.”
International RPK growth reached 3.2 per cent YoY in June, but load factor fell across all regions as capacity growth outstripped demand.
The steepest fall in RPK growth from May was in the Middle East, where international traffic contracted 0.4 per cent YoY impacted by military conflict.
African airlines saw a 0.3 per cent YoY decrease in demand while capacity was up 0.3 per cent. Load factor was 74.6 per cent (-0.5 per cent compared to June 2024).
The decline in African load factor may be due to increased competition from European and Middle Eastern carriers, according to the IATA.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved 7.2 per cent YoY increase in demand and 7.5 per cent in capacity. Load factor was 82.9 per cent (-0.2 per cent against June 2024).
European carriers had a 2.8 per cent YoY rise in demand. Capacity increased 3.3 per cent YoY and load factor was 87.4 per cent (-0.4 per cent compared to June 2024).
North American carriers saw a 0.3 per cent YoY fall in demand. Capacity grew 2.2 per cent YoY and load factor was 86.9 per cent (-2.2 per cent versus June 2024).
Middle Eastern carriers experienced 0.4 per cent YoY decrease in demand, capacity increased 1.1 per cent and load factor was 78.7 per cent (-1.2 per cent compared to June 2024).
Military conflict particularly impacted traffic on routes to North America (-7.0 per cent YoY) and Europe (-4.4 per cent YoY).
Latin American airlines saw a 9.3 per cent YoY increase in demand and capacity climbed 11.8 per cent. Load factor was 83.3 per cent (-1.9 per cent against June 2024).
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