Global air travel demand soared to a new high in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Overall growth in air travel demand
Total full-year traffic in 2024 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 10.4% compared to 2023 which was 3.8% above pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose by 8.7% in 2024, while the overall load factor hit a record- high of 83.5% for the year.
International air traffic in 2024 grew by 13.6% compared to 2023, with capacity rising by 12.8%, while domestic traffic increased by 5.7%, with capacity expanding by 2.5%.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said:
“2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel.”
He added:
“Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more.”
International passenger markets
RPK: Revenue Passenger Kilometres measures actual passenger traffic
ASK: Available Seat Kilometres measures available passenger capacity
PLF: Passenger Load Factor is % of ASKs used.
In 2024, full-year international traffic exceeded the 2019 peak by 0.5%, with growth recorded across all regions.
Capacity remained 0.9% below 2019 levels, while the load factor reached a record high of 83.2%, improving by 0.5 percentage points.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw the highest year-over-year growth in 2024, with a 26.0% increase in international traffic compared to 2023, a 24.7% rise in capacity, and a 0.8 percentage point improvement in load factor to 83.8%.
Despite the strong performance in the Asia-Pacific, significant growth potential remains, with international RPKs still 8.7% below 2019 levels.
European airlines saw a 9.7% increase in full-year traffic for 2024 compared to 2023, with capacity rising by 9.2% and the load factor improving by 0.4 percentage points to 84.1%.
Middle Eastern carriers recorded a 9.4% growth in traffic in 2024, with capacity expanding by 8.4% and the load factor increasing by 0.7 percentage points to 80.8%.
North American airlines experienced a 6.8% rise in annual traffic in 2024, while capacity grew by 7.4%. However, the load factor dipped by 0.5 percentage points to 84.2%.
Latin American carriers reported a 14.4% increase in traffic for 2024, with annual capacity rising 14.3%. The load factor edged up by 0.1 percentage points to 84.8%, the highest among all regions.
African airlines saw a 13.2% growth in annual traffic for 2024, with capacity up 9.5% and the load factor increasing by 2.5 percentage points to 74.5%—the lowest among regions but a record high for Africa.
Domestic passenger markets
Domestic air travel in 2024 reached record highs in passenger numbers and load factors, with China leading the way in domestic RPK growth, rising 12.3% from 2023.
Other major domestic markets saw steady growth, with Japan recording a 3.2% increase despite a 0.3% decline in capacity.
India was the only market to experience a drop in load factor (-0.6 percentage points), yet it still achieved the highest load factor among all domestic markets at 86.4%.
Challenges and the road ahead
Travel demand is expected to continue growing in 2025, though at a more moderate pace of 8.0%, in line with historical averages.
Walsh said:
“The desire to partake in the freedom that flying makes possible brings some challenges into sharp focus.”
Walsh first highlighted safety concerns following the fatal accident in Washington D.C. on January 30 before emphasising the aviation industry’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
While airlines remain dedicated to this goal, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) met less than 0.5% of fuel needs in 2024 due to high costs and limited supply.
Walsh stressed that governments can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges by prioritising renewable fuel production and reallocating fossil fuel subsidies to increase SAF availability, enhance energy security, and drive economic growth.
Do you think global air passenger demand in 2025 will surpass 2024 levels? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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