The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released global air travel data for March 2025. According to the figures, passenger demand increased by 3.3% year-on-year, while capacity growth outpaced this at 5.3%. This imbalance led to a decline in load factors. The global load factor fell by 1.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year, settling at 80.7%.
Demand Up, but Capacity Grows Faster
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Total passenger demand (RPK): Up 3.3%
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Total capacity (ASK): Up 5.3%
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Load factor: 80.7% (down 1.6 percentage points compared to March 2024)
Mixed Picture in International and Domestic Markets
International air travel saw a 4.9% annual increase in demand. However, with capacity rising by 7%, the load factor dropped to 79.9% (down 1.7 percentage points).
Domestic air traffic recorded a modest 0.9% increase in demand, while capacity grew by 2.5%. The load factor reached 82.0% (down 1.3 percentage points).
Regional Overview: Asia-Pacific Leads, North America Shrinks
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Asia-Pacific: Strongest growth with a 9.9% increase in demand. Load factor: 84.1% (down 1.3 percentage points).
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Europe: Demand rose by 4.9%, with a load factor of 78.2% (down 1.5 percentage points).
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North America: Demand decreased by 0.1%, marking the second consecutive month of contraction. Load factor: 83.0% (down 1.8 percentage points).
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Latin America: Demand up 7.7%, with a load factor of 80.9% (down 3.3 percentage points).
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Middle East: Demand fell by 1%, with the impact of Ramadan observed. Load factor: 74.6% (down 2.9 percentage points).
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Africa: Demand up by 3.3%, load factor at 70.1% (down 0.2 percentage points).
Domestic Markets: India and Japan Shine, US and Australia Decline
India and Japan recorded strong growth in domestic markets, with demand rising by 11.0% and 8.0%, respectively. In contrast, the US market shrank by 1.7%, and Australia by 1.2%, contributing to the global slowdown.
| Country | Annual Demand (RPK) | Capacity (ASK) | Load Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | +11.0% | +14.5% | 83.3% |
| Japan | +8.0% | +2.7% | 84.4% |
| China | +1.7% | -0.8% | 83.2% |
| Brazil | +8.9% | +8.3% | 80.4% |
| USA | -1.7% | -4.2% | 80.3% |
| Australia | -1.2% | -4.1% | 81.8% |
IATA Warning: Infrastructure and Supply Chain Still Weak Links
In its statement, IATA said: “The March data confirms that global air travel continues to grow, but capacity management, airport infrastructure, and air traffic control systems remain under strain.”
It also noted ongoing speculation about the potential impact of tariffs and economic uncertainty on travel behaviour. IATA stressed that reforms in global aviation infrastructure are still necessary to effectively manage demand growth.
