Helped by a strong growth in demand for international air travel in Europe and Asia Pacific, global air travel rose 8.1 pc in November 2024 compared to November 2023.

In a press statement, International Air Transport Association (IATA), which brings together over 340 airlines around the world, says that total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 8.1 pc compared to November 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 5.7 pc year-on-year. The November load factor was 83.4 pc, a growth of 1.9 percentage points (ppts) compared to November 2023, reaching an all-time high for November.

IATA says that in November, international demand rose faster at 11.6 pc compared to November 2023 and capacity was up 8.6 pc year-on-year, while the load factor was 83.4 pc, 2.3 ppts higher than in November 2023. It adds that strong performance by carriers in Europe and Asia-Pacific drove this double-digit expansion in demand.

In comparison, domestic demand rose more slowly, says IATA, as it grew by 3.1 pc compared to November 2023, adding that capacity was up 1.5 pc year-on-year and the load factor was 83.5 pc, about 1.2 ppts higher when compared to November 2023.

Willie Walsh

“November was another month of strong growth in the demand for air travel with an overall expansion of 8.1 pc. The month was also another reminder of the supply chain issues that are preventing airlines from getting the aircraft they need to meet growing demand. Capacity growth is lagging demand by 2.4 ppts and load factors are at record levels. Airlines are missing out on opportunities to better serve customers, modernize their products and improve their environmental performance because aircraft are not being delivered on time. The 2025 New Year’s resolution for the aerospace manufacturing sector must be finding a fast and durable solution for their supply chain issues,” says Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA.

IATA adds that all regions showed growth for international passenger markets in November 2024 compared to November 2023. Europe had the highest load factors of 85 pc while Asia-Pacific led on growth with a 19.9 pc year-on-year expansion in demand. It says that Middle Eastern carriers saw an 8.7 pc year-on-year increase in demand, while those in North America saw a 3.1 pc year-on-year increase in demand.

According to IATA, in terms of domestic markets, domestic RPK increased 3.1 pc over the previous year, decelerating slightly from the 3.5 pc growth posted in October. Signs of stable growth were shown in all markets except in the US which saw a 2.7 pc contraction, deeper than the 1.2 pc year-on-year dip recorded in October. This is part of a slowing trend in the US domestic market since June 2024 and mainly reflects lower low-cost carrier activity. US mainline carriers have continued to see growth over the same period.