The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2025 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
- Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.6% compared to September 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 3.7% year-on-year. The September load factor was 83.4% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).
- International demand rose 5.1% compared to September 2024. Capacity was up 5.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.6% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).
- Domestic demand increased 0.9% compared to September 2024. Capacity was up 1.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.0% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).
“Solid international demand drove 90% of September’s 3.6% overall growth. Importantly, the capacity expansion slightly nudged ahead of demand growth at 3.7%. Load factors, nonetheless, remained very strong at 83.4%. With November flight schedules indicating a 3% expansion on the previous year, airlines are gearing up for continued growth into the year-end holiday season. This is despite the severe constraints of unresolved supply chain issues,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Air Passenger Market in Detail September 2025 (% year-on-year) World Share1 RPK ASK PLF(%-PT)2 PLF(Level)3
| Total Market | 100% | 3.6% | 3.7% | -0.1% | 83.4% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 6.1% | 6.9% | -0.6% | 74.9% |
| Asia-Pacific | 33.5% | 5.3% | 4.0% | 1.1% | 83.6% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 2.9% | 3.3% | -0.3% | 86.2% |
| Latin America and Caribbean | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 0.0% | 83.6% |
| Middle East | 9.4% | 6.2% | 6.3% | -0.1% | 81.8% |
| North America | 22.9% | -0.1% | 1.8% | -1.5% | 81.2% |
1) % of industry RPK in 2024 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets
International RPK growth reached 5.1% in September year-on-year, and growth was seen in all regions. The only region to show a significant load factor improvement was Asia-Pacific.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 7.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.3% (+1.0 ppt compared to September 2024). Intra-Asia travel was the strongest driver of growth with a 9.4% increase, led primarily by traffic from China and Japan.
European carriers had a 4.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6% (-0.3 ppt compared to September 2024).
North American carriers saw a 2.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.9% (-1.5 ppt compared to September 2024). The North America-Asia corridor showed weak growth of just 0.9%. By contrast, North America-South America traffic bounced back from its August decline, with growth of 1.1%.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 6.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.9% (unchanged compared to September 2024).
Latin American airlines saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 6.8% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.3% (-1.2 ppt compared to September 2024).
African airlines saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.7% (+0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).
Domestic Passenger Markets
Domestic RPK rose 0.9% over September 2024 and load factor fell by 0.1 ppt to 83.0% on the back of a 1.1% capacity expansion. Brazil continues to lead the way with a double-digit expansion. By contrast, the decline in US domestic travel accelerated to -1.7% and its load factor is the weakest of the major domestic markets.
September 2025 (% year-on-year) World Share1 RPK ASK PLF(%-PT)2 PLF(LEVEL)3
| Domestic | 38.2% | 0.9% | 1.1% | -0.1% | 83.0% |
| Domestic Australia | 0.8% | 1.3% | 5.3% | -3.2% | 81.7% |
| Domestic Brazil | 1.1% | 12.1% | 10.0% | 1.6% | 84.4% |
| Domestic China P.R. | 11.3% | 5.0% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 84.2% |
| Domestic India | 1.7% | -0.7% | 1.5% | -1.9% | 81.1% |
| Domestic Japan | 1.0% | 3.3% | -0.8% | 3.4% | 84.9% |
| Domestic US | 14.4% | -1.7% | 0.1% | -1.5% | 80.2% |
1) % of industry RPK in 2024 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
View the September 2025 Air Passenger Market Analysis (pdf)
