The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), went up 7.1 percent in September 2024, an all-time high for the month.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 5.8 percent year-on-year. The September load factor was 83.6 percent.
International demand rose 9.2 percent compared to September 2023, with capacity up 9.1 percent year-on-year and load factor rising to 83.8 percent.
Domestic demand went up 3.7 percent compared to September 2023.
“The year’s peak travel season ended with demand at an all-time high. This is good news not just for passengers but also for the global economy. Every flight creates more jobs and trade. But the air travel success story is bringing challenges. We will soon face a capacity crunch in some regions which threatens to curtail these economic and social benefits. Government’s will face a choice: lose out to more dynamic nations who value global connectivity, or forge a consensus for sustainable growth. Airlines are making significant investments to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That needs to be accompanied by an equally active political vision, backed-up by actions, to ensure we have efficient and sufficient airport and air traffic management capacity to meet the needs of citizens and businesses to travel,” said IATA director-general Willie Walsh.
