International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported an +8.1% year-on-year increase in global passenger demand for November 2024, measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs.
Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose +5.7% during the same period, resulting in a load factor of 83.4% (+1.9 percentage points).
International passenger demand also recorded growth, increasing by +11.6% compared to November 2023. Capacity rose +8.6%, and the load factor climbed to 83.4% (+2.3 percentage points).
Carriers in the Middle East and Asia Pacific experienced higher growth and contributed to global momentum. International RPK in Asia Pacific is now just 0.5% below pre-pandemic levels.
Domestic travel also grew, with demand rising +3.1%, capacity up +1.5%, and the load factor reaching 83.5% (+1.2 percentage points). India led the main markets in November with a +13.3% rise in RPK.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh commented: “November was another month of strong growth in the demand for air travel with an overall expansion of +8.1%.
“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 percentage points and load factors are at record levels.
“Airlines are missing out on opportunities to better serve customers, modernise their products and improve their environmental performance because aircraft are not being delivered on time.
“The new year’s resolution for the aerospace manufacturing sector must be finding a fast and durable solution for their supply chain issues.” ✈
