IATA: Total global air passenger demand increased 0.2% year-on-year in July

The Zhitong Finance App learned that according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) global air passenger demand data for July 2026, total air passenger demand (based on RPK revenue in passenger kilometers) increased by 0.2% compared to July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand increased by 1.2%. Total capacity (calculated based on the number of available ASK seat kilometers) increased 0.3% year over year. The passenger load rate was 85.2%, down 0.1 percentage points from July 2025.

International demand fell 0.1% year-on-year in July 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand increased by 1.5%. The capacity increased by 0.3% year on year, and the passenger load rate was 85.2%, down 0.3 percentage points from July 2025.

Domestic demand increased 0.6% year-on-year in July 2025. Capacity increased by 0.2% year over year. The passenger load rate was 85.3%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over the same period in 2025.

Marie Owens Thomsen (Marie Owens Thomsen), senior vice president and chief economist of the International Air Transport Association, said, “During the peak summer travel season in the northern hemisphere, air passenger traffic performed positively overall. Despite a year-on-year decline in demand from North American and Middle Eastern airlines, overall air passenger demand increased by 0.2% in July. Notably, passenger traffic through the Gulf hub continues to recover. Despite high fuel costs, economic uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical tension, airlines remain confident in demand for the rest of the year, and seat capacity increased by nearly 3% in September.”

International passenger transport market

International passenger kilometer revenue (RPK) decreased by 0.1%, and capacity increased by 0.3%. Excluding the Middle East, international passenger traffic increased by 1.5%.

Asia Pacific airline demand declined 0.7% year over year. The capacity decreased by 1.7% year on year, and the passenger load rate was 84.5%, up 0.9 percentage points from July 2025.

European airline demand increased 3.1% year over year. The capacity increased by 3.2% year on year, and the passenger load rate was 87.1%, down 0.1 percentage points from July 2025. Passenger traffic on Eurasian routes increased by 12.1%, the fastest growth of all major international routes.

Middle East airline demand declined 9.5% year over year. The capacity decreased by 5.8% year on year, and the passenger load rate was 80.9%, down 3.3 percentage points from July 2025. Passenger demand experienced a double-digit decline earlier this year, and the decline has continued to narrow since then.

Demand for North American airlines fell 2.3% year over year. The capacity decreased by 2.3% year on year, and the passenger load rate was 88.2%, the same as in July 2025. Demand on major transatlantic routes fell by 2.2%, with passenger traffic from the UK, France and Spain falling significantly.

Demand from LATAM airlines increased 7.1% year over year. Capacity increased 7.2% year over year. The passenger load rate was 85.7%, down 0.1 percentage points from July 2025.

Demand from African airlines increased 6.4% year over year. Capacity increased 9.0% year over year. The passenger load rate was 74.1%, down 1.8 percentage points from July 2025.

Domestic passenger transport market

Domestic passenger revenue per kilometer (RPK) increased 0.6% year-on-year in July 2026. Passenger demand from China and Brazil grew strongly, while demand from the US, Australia, and India declined.