Geneva: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data highlighting a 5% increase in global passenger demand for May 2025, compared to the same month in 2024. The data, which measures total demand in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), also showed a corresponding 5% increase in capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK). The overall load factor for the month stood at 83.4%, experiencing a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from May 2024.

According to Emirates News Agency, international passenger demand witnessed a notable climb of 6.7% compared to May of the previous year. Capacity for international travel increased by 6.4% year-on-year, and the load factor reached 83.2%, marking a record for international flights in May with a rise of 0.2 percentage points. Meanwhile, domestic travel demand saw a modest rise of 2.1%, with an increase in capacity of 2.8%. The load factor in the domestic sector was recorded at 83.7%, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points from May 2024.

Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, noted the uneven growth across different regions. “Globally, the industry reported 5% growth with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4%. The outlier was North America, which reported a 0.5% decline, led by a 1.7% fall in the US domestic market,” Walsh stated. He further emphasized the challenges posed by geopolitical instability, particularly in the Middle East, which saw significant disruptions in late June, affecting airline operations and passenger convenience.

Walsh also pointed out the importance of monitoring oil prices, which remained low through May. He highlighted the strong consumer confidence reflected in forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season, suggesting a positive outlook for the industry in the coming months.