Global aviation markets have been registering strong growth since end of pandemic
The total number of scheduled commercial flights around the world from December 30 to March 23 stands at over 7.57 million flights, representing an average of 106,564 scheduled flights per day.
According to global aviation market analysis firm OAG, global capacity in March 2025 will reach 493.8 million seats, an increase of 9 pc on March 2024, which is equivalent to an extra 21.3 million seats.
In a press statement, OAG says that the largest region is North America with 113.6 million seats in capacity, followed by North East Asia with 109.1 million seats and Western Europe with 93.2 million seats.
The statement adds that the regions with the largest growth rates are South Asia and North Africa, as capacity in both regions has risen by 10 pc compared to last year. OAG adds that two regions that are showing a decline in capacity versus last year areSouthwest Pacificwhich is down 0.6 pc and Central/Western Africa which is down 2.2 pc.
OAG says that as of March this year, there are a total of 736 scheduled airlines around the world flying to 3,936 functional airports around the world.
It adds that American Airlines remains the largest airline in the world in terms of frequencies, with 194,400 frequencies for this month, which is 43,400 more than Delta Air Lines, the second largest airline in the world by this metric.
United Airlines is showing the strongest growth in terms of extra flying, 15,000 more frequencies than last year, followed by American Airlines which is up 14,800 frequencies.
According to OAG, low-cost Indian carrier, IndiGo, is the fastest growing airline in the world, with an increase of 14.2 pc compared to last year and German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG continues to show the largest rate of decline, down 6.6 pc in terms of frequencies compared to last year. The report adds that the United States remains the largest domestic market with 91.1 million seats in the market this month, which is over 22.7 million seats larger than the second largest domestic market, China, with 68.4 million seats.
In domestic aviation capacity, India is fastest growing market 11.7 pc on last year, followed closely by Mexico which is up 11.4 pc.
Indonesia has declined the most in March, down 1.9 pc of last year. The other markets in decline this month are Australia, which is down 1.6 pc and China which is off 0.5 pc over last year.
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