Air passenger growth slows to 2.6% in June: IATA

Global air passenger growth slowed in June, but still saw gains, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 

Releasing its data for June 2025 yesterday (July 31), IATA reports that total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 2.6 per cent compared to June 2024.

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was also up 3.4 per cent year-on-year. The June load factor was 84.5 per cent (-0.6 ppt compared to June 2024).

International demand rose 3.2 per cent compared to June 2024. Capacity was up 4.2 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.4 per cent (-0.8 ppt compared to June 2024).

As for domestic demand, it increased 1.6 per cent compared to June 2024. Capacity was up 2.1 per cent year-on-year. The load factor was 84.7 per cent (-0.4 ppt compared to June 2024).

North American carriers, for one, saw a 0.3 per cent year-on-year fall in demand, says IATA.

Capacity in this same market increased 2.2 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 86.9 per cent (-2.2 ppt compared to June 2024).

“In June, demand for air travel grew by 2.6 per cent. That’s a slower pace than we have seen in previous months and reflects disruptions around military conflict in the Middle East,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, in a statement.

“With demand growth lagging the 3.4 per cent capacity expansion, load factors dipped 0.6 percentage points from their all-time record-high levels. At 84.5 per cent globally, however, load factors are still very strong. And with a modest 1.8 per cent capacity growth visible in August schedules, load factors over the Northern summer are unlikely to stray far from their recent historic highs.”

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