Global Air Passenger Demand Down 0.5 Pct In September Amid Weaknesses In Middle East, North America
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Total global air passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was down 0.5 per cent in September 2026 compared to the same month last year, reflecting weaknesses in the Middle East and North America.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.3 per cent.
In a statement released in Geneva, Switzerland, the association said total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), decreased 0.2 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) while the load factor was 83.2 per cent, down 0.3 percentage points (ppt) compared to a year earlier.
IATA’s senior vice president (sustainability) and chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen said nevertheless, this was an improvement from August, with a welcome return to growth in most international markets.
“These patterns have more-or-less repeated themselves throughout much of the year, and we can expect this to continue amid geopolitical uncertainty and volatile fuel prices.
“Global scheduled seat capacity is expected to remain above 2025 levels in October and November, but the rates of growth remain weak and highly unbalanced between regions,” she added.
IATA said international demand grew 0.4 per cent in September 2026 compared to same month last year; but excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, capacity was up 0.5 per cent y-o-y, and the load factor was 83.6 per cent.
On the regional breakdown, IATA said international RPK grew 0.4 per cent, with capacity up 0.5 per cent, as there was a general improvement over August on most key routes, with some returning to growth and others seeing an easing in rates of decline.
“Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 0.7 per cent y-o-y increase in demand. Capacity increased 0.4 per cent y-o-y, and the load factor was 83.1 per cent (up 0.3 ppt compared to September 2025).
"Traffic increased on four of the six largest international route areas serving Asia-Pacific. On routes within Asia, traffic declined by 0.9 per cent, though this was a slower rate of decline than in August,” said IATA, which represents over 370 airlines accounting for some 85 per cent of global air traffic.
-- BERNAMA