The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for September 2024 global passenger demand which found that revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) were up 7.1% compared to September 2023, an all-time high for September.
Additionally, total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 5.8% year-on-year. The September load factor was 83.6% (+1.0 percentage points (ppt) compared to September 2023). International demand also rose 9.2% compared to September 2023. Capacity was up 9.1% year-on-year and the load factor rose to 83.8% (+0.1ppt compared to September 2023). Alongside this, domestic demand rose 3.7% compared to September 2023, with capacity up 0.7% year-on-year and 83.3% load factor (+2.4ppt compared to September 2023).
“The year’s peak travel season ended with demand at an all-time high,” commented Willie Walsh, director general of IATA. “This is good news not just for passengers but also for the global economy. Every flight creates more jobs and trade. But the air travel success story is bringing challenges. We will soon face a capacity crunch in some regions which threatens to curtail these economic and social benefits. Governments will face a choice: lose out to more dynamic nations who value global connectivity, or forge a consensus for sustainable growth. Airlines are making significant investments to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That needs to be accompanied by an equally active political vision, backed up by actions, to ensure we have efficient and sufficient airport and air traffic management capacity to meet the needs of citizens and businesses to travel.”
Air passenger market in detail
| September 2024 (% year-on year) | World share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (ppt)2 | PLF (level)3 |
| Total market | 100% | 7.1% | 5.8% | +1.0% | 83.6% |
| Africa | 2.1% | 12.2% | 6.9% | +3.6% | 76.5% |
| Asia Pacific | 31.7% | 12.4% | 8.0% | +3.2% | 83.1% |
| Europe | 27.1% | 6.7% | 6.4% | +0.3% | 86.5% |
| Latin America | 5.5% | 7.2% | 7.6% | -0.3% | 83.4% |
| Middle East | 9.4% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 0.0% | 81.4% |
| North America | 24.2% | 1.1% | 2.2% | -0.9% | 82.4% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2023
2) Year-on-year change in load factor
3) Load factor level
Regional breakdown – international passenger markets
All regions showed growth for international passenger markets in September 2024 compared to September 2023. The load factor was mixed: Europe had the highest load factors, and Asia and African carriers also improved, but the Americas and the Middle East suffered falls.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved an 18.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 17.7% year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6% (+0.5ppt compared to September 2023).
European carriers saw a 7.6% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.4% year-on-year, with a 85.9% load factor (+0.2ppt compared to September 2023).
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 4.4% year-on-year increase in demand, with a 4.6% year-on-year capacity increase and 81.4% load factor (-0.1ppt compared to September 2023).
North American carriers saw a 0.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 1.9% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.4% (-1.1 ppt compared to September 2023).
Latin American airlines saw a 12.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 13.9% year-on-year, with 84.3% load factor (-1.1ppt compared to September 2023).
African airlines saw an 11.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.6% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 76.0% (+3.6ppt compared to September 2023).
Domestic passenger markets
All key markets showed stable growth in domestic demand and all except Japan saw all-time highs for September domestic traffic.
| September 2024 (% year-on-year) | World share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (ppt)2 | PLF (level)3 |
| Domestic | 39.9% | 3.7% | 0.7% | +2.4% | 83.3% |
| Domestic Australia | 0.8% | 1.5% | -0.6% | +1.8% | 86.3% |
| Domestic Brazil | 1.2% | 6.6% | 4.8% | +1.4% | 82.8% |
| Domestic China P.R. | 11.2% | 7.7% | -1.8% | +7.4% | 84.2% |
| Domestic India | 1.8% | 6.5% | 9.6% | -2.4% | 83.1% |
| Domestic Japan | 1.1% | 6.7% | -1.0% | +5.9% | 81.7% |
| Domestic US | 15.4% | 1.6% | 2.3% | -0.6% | 81.3% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2023
2) Year-on-year change in load factor
3) Load factor level
For more insights into IATA, read Passenger Terminal World’s exclusive interview with Matthew Vaughan, the organization’s director of aviation security and cyber, here.