The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a strong start to 2025, with global passenger demand rising by 10% in January compared to the previous year. Capacity increased by 7.1%, while the load factor reached a record 82.1% for the month.
International travel demand surged 12.4%, with Asia-Pacific airlines leading the growth at an impressive 21.8%. Domestic travel also saw a steady increase of 6.1%, primarily driven by India (+17.1%), Japan (+12.1%), and China (+10.0%).
All regions experienced growth, with Asia-Pacific (16.1%) and Africa (15.0%) showing the highest increases. However, Latin America was the only region where load factors declined, dropping by 1.5 percentage points.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh attributed the surge to strong market confidence and continued passenger demand, despite ongoing supply chain challenges. Surveys indicate that 94% of travellers plan to maintain or increase their travel in 2025, reinforcing the industry’s positive outlook.
