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The International Air Transport Association (THERE IT IS) published the performance of the passenger market for the year 2025 and December 2025, showing record demand.
On 2025, demand for air travel grew by 5,3%, with a growth in international demand for 7,1% and the national 2,4%. This aligns industry growth with historical growth patterns following the strong post-COVID-19 recovery..
Total demand for the year 2025 (measured in transported passenger kilometers or RPK) increased a 5,3 % in comparison with 2024. The total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased a 5,2 % on 2025. Passenger load factor (PLF) generally reached 83,6 %, an increase of 0,1 percentage points and a record for annual traffic.
Passengers traveled more in 2025
International demand for the year 2025 increased a 7,1 % in comparison with 2024, and capacity increased by 6,8 %. The international load factor for the year 2025 was from 83,5 %, an increase of 0,2 percentage points with respect to 2024. This was also a record for the international PLF.
National demand for the year 2025 increased a 2,4 % compared to the previous year, while capacity expanded by 2,5 %. The load factor for the entire year averaged 83,7 %, a decrease of 0,1 percentage points compared to 2024.
December of 2025 It was a good end to the year, with a year-on-year increase in general demand for 5,6 %, a growth in the capacity of 5,9 % and a load factor 83,7 %.
Strong and continued increase in demand highlights two key challenges: decarbonization and the supply chain.
First, decarbonization, will protect long-term future growth. Governments whose economies grow through aviation and whose citizens crave connectivity must provide a favorable fiscal policy framework to rapidly accelerate progress, in particular for the energy sector to increase the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (PURE).
The second, the challenges of the supply chain, was the biggest problem for airlines in 2025. People clearly wanted to travel more, but airlines were continually disappointed by unreliable delivery times for new aircraft and engines, maintenance capacity limitations and consequent cost increases that are estimated to exceed the 11 000 millions of dollars. Airlines scrambled to meet demand by keeping aircraft in service longer and filling more seats on each flight.. With load factors just below… 84%, It is evident that these measures were an effective patch, but we need a real solution. It is vital that 2025 be the nadir of the supply chain crisis, and? 2026 dial a recovery. «Every new plane means a quieter and cleaner fleet, with more capacity and flight options than at any time in history, "What airlines and their customers want to see.", declared Willie Walsh, general director of the THERE IT IS.
Regional international breakdown
- Annual international traffic increased by 7,1 % in comparison with 2024, while capacity increased by 6,8 %. In December, international demand grew 7,7 %, capacity increased by 7,9 % and the load factor decreased 0,1 percentage points (compared to December 2024), until the 83,9 %.
- Asia-Pacific airlines saw an increase in 10,9 % in annual international traffic 2025 in comparison with 2024. Capacity increased by 10,2 % and load factor increased 0,5 percentage points, until the 84,4 %. The region closed 2025 with the fastest growth rate and highest load factor of all regions. December traffic 2025 increased a 7,5 % compared to December 2024.
- Annual traffic of European airlines increased by 6,0 % in comparison with 2024. Capacity increased by 5,9 % and load factor increased 0,1 percentage points, until the 84,1 %. In December, demand increased by 8,4 % compared to the same month 2024.
- Middle East airlines experienced an increase in passenger traffic 6,7 % on 2025 in comparison with 2024. Capacity increased by 5,8 % and load factor increased 0,7 percentage points, until the 81,6 %. Demand in December increased by 9,5 % compared to the same month 2024.
- North American airlines recorded an annual increase in air traffic 2,1 % on 2025 in comparison with 2024. Capacity increased by 2,4 % and the load factor decreased 0,2 percentage points, until the 83,9 %. Both traffic and capacity growth were the slowest of all regions in 2025. Traffic in December 2025 increased a 3,5 % compared to the same period of the previous year.
- Latin American airlines registered an increase in traffic of the 8,6 % on 2025 with respect to the full year of 2024. Annual capacity increased by 10,2 % and the load factor decreased 1,2 percentage points, until the 83,6 % (the steepest drop in load factor of any region). Demand in December increased by 8,2 % compared to December 2024.
- African airlines' annual traffic increased by 7,8 % on 2025 compared to the previous year. All-year capacity 2025 increased a 6,5 % and load factor increased 0,9 percentage points, until the 74,9 %. This was the lowest load factor among the regions, but a record for Africa and the largest load factor increase of any region. African airline traffic in December 2025 increased a 10,3 % with respect to December 2024.
Everything points to a new historic year, but of course, All challenges and geopolitics will play a key role in achieving it.. We will inform.
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