
Total June air passenger traffic demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometers, increased 2.6 percent year over year, according to the International Air Transport Association, the lowest such figure since March.
IATA pointed to conflict in the Middle East as a key driver in the lower demand; several carriers canceled flights in June following Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
“In June, demand for air travel grew by 2.6 percent,” IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. “That’s a slower pace than we have seen in previous months and reflects disruptions around military conflict in the Middle East.”
Total June global capacity as measured in available seat kilometers increased 3.4 percent year over year, and the June global load factor declined 0.6 percentage points to 84.5 percent.
June international demand increased 3.2 percent year over year, while capacity increased 4.2 percent. The international load factor was 84.4 percent, down 0.6 percentage points from June 2024.
Domestic demand in June increased 1.6 percent from June 2024, while capacity was up 2.1 percent. The June domestic load factor was 84.7 percent, down 0.4 percentage points year over year.
“At 84.5 percent globally, however, load factors are still very strong,” according to Walsh. “And with a modest 1.8 percent capacity growth visible in August schedules, load factors over the Northern summer are unlikely to stray far from their recent historic highs.”
[Report continues below chart.]
Total June demand increased year over year in every global region except the Middle East, where it declined 0.2 percent, according to IATA. The sharpest increase was in Latin America at 7.9 percent, followed by the Asia-Pacific region at 5 percent.
June international demand declined year over in three regions: North America and Africa (each down 0.3 percent year over year) and the Middle East (down 0.4 percent).
June U.S. domestic air travel demand increased year over year for the first time since January, albeit only at 0.1 percent. Domestic June demand increased in each of the large countries in IATA’s report, led by Brazil at 14.7 percent.
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