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Global Air Passenger Demand Grows 0.2% in July
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Global Air Passenger Demand Grows 0.2% in July

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In Brief: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 0.2% compared to July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.2%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 0.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.2% (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025).

  • Global Air Passenger Demand Grows 0.2% in July – Image Credit Unsplash+   

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for July 2026 global passenger demand:

  • Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 0.2% compared to July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.2%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 0.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.2% (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025).

  • International demand fell 0.1% compared to July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.5%. Capacity was up 0.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.2% (-0.3 ppt compared to July 2025).  

  • Domestic demand grew 0.6% compared to July 2025. Capacity increased 0.2% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.3% (+0.3 ppt during the same reference period).  

“The peak Northern summer travel season is a mostly positive story for air travel. Overall growth of 0.2% in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East. Notably, traffic through the Gulf hubs continues its recovery trajectory. Although high fuel costs, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions continue, carriers are expressing confidence in demand for the last part of the year with an almost 3% expansion of seat capacity in September,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability, and Chief Economist.

Air Passenger Market in Detail JULY 2026 (% year-on-year) World Share​1 RPK ASK PLF(%-PT)​2 PLF(Level)​3
Total Market 100% 0.2% 0.3% -0.1 85.2%
Africa 2.2% 5.2% 7.3% -1.5 75.1%
Asia-Pacific 34.4% 1.0% 0.3% 0.6 83.7%
Europe 26.7% 2.1% 2.3% -0.1 87.7%
Latin America and the Caribbean 5.4% 6.1% 6.6% -0.4 85.3%
Middle East 9.5% -10.0% -6.2% -3.4 80.7%
North America 21.8% -1.2% -1.8% 0.6 87.3%

1) % of industry RPK in 2025    2) Year-on-year change in load factor    3) Load Factor Level

Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets

International RPK fell 0.1%, with capacity rising 0.3%. However, excluding the Middle East carriers, total demand rose 1.5%.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 0.7% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity decreased 1.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.5% (+0.9 ppt compared to July 2025).

European carriers saw a 3.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose 3.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.1% (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025). Passenger traffic between Europe and Asia grew 12.1%, representing the strongest expansion of any major international corridor.

North American carriers saw a decrease in demand of 2.3% year-on-year. Capacity decreased a similar 2.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 88.2% (0.0 ppt compared to July 2025). The key transatlantic corridor fell by 2.2%, with notable declines in traffic from UK, France, and Spain.  

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 9.5% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity fell 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.9% (-3.3 ppt compared to July 2025). The decline in traffic continues to moderate after the double-digit fall earlier in the year.  

Latin American airlines achieved a 7.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 7.2% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.7% (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025).

African airlines saw a 6.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 9.0% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.1% (-1.8 ppt compared to July 2025).

Domestic Passenger Markets

Domestic RPK grew 0.6% in July 2026 compared to the same month last year. China and Brazil all had strong growth, but the United States, Australia, and India incurred decreases.

JULY 2026 (% year-on-year) World Share​1 RPK ASK PLF(%-PT)​2 PLF(LEVEL)​3
Domestic 37.2% 0.6% 0.2% 0.3 85.3%
Domestic Australia 0.8% -0.5% 1.2% -1.5 83.6%
Domestic Brazil 1.2% 6.0% 8.0% -1.5 84.1%
Domestic China P.R. 11.3% 5.3% 4.7% 0.5 83.6%
Domestic India 1.7% -6.3 -6.0% -0.2 82.7%
Domestic Japan 1.0% 0.9% 0.4% 0.4 81.8%
Domestic United States 13.6% -0.5% -1.4% 0.8 86.7%

1) % of industry RPK in 2025    2) Year-on-year change in load factor    3) Load Factor Level

> View the July 2026 Air Passenger Market Analysis (pdf)

 

  • Explanation of measurement terms:

    • RPK: Revenue Passenger Kilometers measures actual passenger traffic

    • ASK: Available Seat Kilometers measures available passenger capacity

    • PLF: Passenger Load Factor is % of ASKs used

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