Geneva, 30 June 2025 — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its global passenger traffic results for May 2025, revealing a 5.0% year-on-year increase in total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs). Total capacity also rose by 5.0%, with a global load factor of 83.4%, just 0.1 percentage points below May 2024.
International and Domestic Trends
International passenger demand posted a robust 6.7% increase compared to May 2024, setting a new record load factor for the month at 83.2%. Domestic demand, while more subdued, rose 2.1%, with a load factor of 83.7% despite capacity growth of 2.8%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted:
“Air travel demand growth was uneven in May. Asia-Pacific led with 9.4% growth, while North America was the only region to see a decline. Forward bookings for the peak Northern summer remain strong, giving reason for cautious optimism.”
Regional Highlights
- Asia-Pacific continued to outperform with 13.3% growth in international RPKs and a load factor of 84.0%, up 2 percentage points from last year.
- Africa posted a significant 9.5% increase in international traffic, with a load factor rising to 74.9% (+2.2 ppt), led by the Africa–Asia corridor, which expanded by 15.9%.
- Latin America reported an 8.8% rise in demand but saw a slight drop in load factor to 83.6%.
- Middle East carriers grew 6.2% in demand, with capacity slightly outpacing growth and a stable load factor at 80.9%.
- Europe saw moderate growth at 4.1%, with a load factor of 84.0%.
- North America experienced a modest 1.4% growth in international demand, but the domestic US market contracted by 1.7%, reflecting economic pressures and reduced government travel.
Domestic Market Insights
- China and Brazil led domestic growth at 7.4% and 18.3% respectively.
- India showed modest growth in RPKs (3.1%) but suffered a 5.3 ppt drop in load factor.
- The US domestic market, accounting for 14.4% of global RPKs, declined due to softening demand and economic slowdown.
Outlook and Caution
While the industry continues to recover, IATA warned of ongoing geopolitical disruptions, particularly in the Middle East, which could influence oil prices and operational stability. Nonetheless, strong forward bookings and rising consumer confidence are promising indicators for the peak travel season.
For full details, visit www.iata.org or contact IATA Corporate Communications at corpcomms@iata.org.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: IATA
