- AP
KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has registered a 4.6 per cent growth in total global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), for August this year.
Its Director General Willie Walsh said the year-on-year (y-o-y) growth set a new record for the 2025 peak northern summer travel season.
Planes were operating with more seats filled than ever, with a record load factor of 86 per cent, he said in a statement today.
"Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, the global growth trend shows no signs of abating. October schedules show airlines are planning 3.4 per cent more capacity.
"Airlines are doing their best to meet travel demand by maximising efficiency, making it even more critical for the aerospace manufacturing sector to sort out its supply chain challenges,” he added.
The aviation body said international demand rose 6.6 per cent in August 2025 compared to the same month a year ago, and load factor reached a historic high.
"International traffic was by far the dominant driver of growth, accounting for 87 per cent of the net increase in global RPK in August.
"Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.8 per cent y-o-y increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.5 per cent y-o-y and the load factor was 85.1 per cent. Growth was driven by strong demand from China and Japan," said IATA. - Bernama
