Global air passenger demand achieved unprecedented heights in 2024, marking a definitive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with traffic levels exceeding 2019 figures by 3.8%, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The industry recorded a 10.4% increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) compared to 2023, while airlines maintained record efficiency with an average load factor of 83.5%. This performance came despite ongoing supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth.
Asia-Pacific carriers emerged as the strongest performers, posting a 26% increase in international traffic compared to 2023. However, the region still operates 8.7% below 2019 levels, suggesting potential for further growth. European airlines followed with a 9.7% increase in traffic, while Latin American carriers achieved the highest regional load factor at 84.8%.
“2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more.”
In domestic markets, China led the recovery with a 12.3% increase in RPKs over 2023. India maintained the highest domestic load factor at 86.4%, despite being the only major market to experience a slight decrease in this metric.
Looking ahead to 2025, IATA projects continued growth at a more moderate pace of 8%, aligning with historical trends. However, the industry faces significant challenges, particularly in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption. Despite record investments in SAF purchases during 2024, these fuels met less than 0.5% of total fuel requirements.
Walsh emphasized the need for government support in expanding SAF production, suggesting that redirecting a portion of fossil fuel subsidies toward renewable energy capacity could enhance energy security while promoting economic growth.
The December 2024 data showed strong momentum entering 2025, with overall demand rising 8.6% year-on-year and international demand increasing by 10.6%. The month achieved a record load factor of 84% for December operations.
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