Air passenger demand grew 5.7% in November: IATA

Global air passenger demand increased in the lead-up to the holiday season, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), releasing its data for November 2025.

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), increased by 5.7% year over year, IATA says.

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 5.4% while the load factor was 83.7% (+0.3 ppt compared to November 2024), a record high for November.

International demand rose 7.7% compared to November 2024. Capacity was up 7.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.0% (+0.4 ppt compared to November 2024).

Domestic demand increased 2.7% while capacity was up 2.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.2% (unchanged compared to November 2024).

North American carriers, for one, saw a 4.0% year-on-year increase in demand, IATA notes.

Capacity increased in that market 4.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.0% (-0.1 ppt compared to November 2024).

Looking at total traffic, North America has seen 10 consecutive months of year-on-year decline in load factor.

“November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year-on-year growth of 5.7%. Load factors reached a new record of 83.7% for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, in a statement.

“The new year’s resolution for the manufacturing sector must be to increase production to meet the needs of their airline customers. The backlog of more than 17,000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026.”

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