Global air passenger demand showed remarkable momentum in January 2025, accelerating to 10% year-on-year growth and returning to double-digit expansion after seven months of single-digit performance, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The industry achieved record-high load factors for January, with total passenger load factor (PLF) reaching 82.1%, representing a 2.2 percentage point increase compared to January 2024.
We’ve seen a notable acceleration in demand this January, with a particularly strong performance by carriers based in the Asia-Pacific region.
Willie Walsh, IATA Director General
“The record high load factors that accompany this strong demand are yet another reminder of the persistent supply chain issues in the aerospace sector,” Walsh added.
Total capacity, measured in available seat-kilometers (ASK), grew by 7.1% year-on-year, failing to keep pace with the stronger demand growth and resulting in the improved load factors.
International traffic continued its notable recovery, growing 12.4% compared to January 2024, while domestic markets posted a 6.1% increase over the same period. Both segments achieved record-high load factors for January, with international at 82.6% and domestic at 81.2%.
Asia Pacific carriers emerged as the dominant force behind January’s growth, contributing more than half (56.6%) of the net increase in total passenger traffic. The region saw strong performance in both domestic and international segments, with overall demand growing by 16.1% compared to January 2024.
In the domestic market, India led growth with a 17.1% year-on-year increase despite engine issues affecting some carriers in the country. Japan followed with a 12.1% surge, while China’s domestic traffic grew 10.0% as the Lunar New Year travel period began, with the country expecting record passenger numbers this year.
The international segment saw Asia Pacific carriers achieving a 21.8% year-on-year increase, particularly driven by strong traffic from Northeast Asia. European carriers posted 8.6% growth, consistent with trends observed in recent months.
Traffic between Asia Pacific and other regions continued to show strong momentum, with routes within Asia (25.4%), between Africa and Asia (23.1%), and Asia-North America (21.4%) posting the highest growth rates among international routes.
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