Source: IATA
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)