The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data detailing global passenger demand in September 2025.
In total, the industry saw a rise in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) of 3.6% when compared to September 2024, with a total capacity increase of 3.7% year -on-year (measured in available seat kilometres (ASK)).
September load factor was reduced by 0.1 ppt (83.4% total) when compared to September 2024, and international demand rose by 5.1% when compared to September 2024, with capacity up 5.2% year-on-year and a load factor reduction of 0.1 ppt (83.6%).
Domestic demand saw an increase of 0.9% when compared to September 2024, with capacity up 1.1% year-on-year with a load factor of 83% (-0.1 ppt when compared to September 2024).
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said: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.
International RPK growth also reached 5.1% in September year-on-year, with growth seen across all regions. The only region to show a significant load factor improvement was Asia-Pacific, which achieved a 7.4% year-on-year increase in demand, with a capacity increase of 6.1% year-on-year and a load factor of 83.3% (+1.0 ppt compared to September 2024).
Intra-Asia travel was the strongest driver of growth with a 9.4% increase, with traffic led primarily from both China and Japan.
Elsewhere, European carriers had a 4.0% year-on-year increase in demand, with a capacity increase of 4.4% year-on-year and a load factor of 85.6% (-0.3 ppt compared to September 2024).
Additional statistics include:
- North America: 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 East: 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 America: 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).
- Africa: 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).
