Global Passenger Traffic Grew 10.4% in 2024 Compared to 2023
According to IATA, December saw an 8.6% year-over-year increase, setting a record for the month.
Global passenger traffic in 2024 increased by 10.4% compared to 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 3.8%, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total available seat kilometers (ASK) grew by 8.7%, while the overall load factor reached a record 83.5% for a full year.
International vs. Domestic Traffic Performance
- International passenger traffic increased 13.6% year-over-year, with capacity up 12.8%.
- Domestic passenger traffic rose 5.7%, with capacity expanding by 2.5%.
December 2024 marked a strong end to the year, with overall demand up 8.6% compared to December 2023, while capacity grew by 5.6%.
- International demand rose by 10.6%, while domestic demand grew by 5.5%.
- The December load factor reached 84%, a record high for the month.
IATA’s Outlook for 2025 and Industry Challenges
IATA Director General Willie Walsh emphasized the strong demand for travel, highlighting record figures in both domestic and international markets.
"2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel. Demand grew by 10.4%, reaching record levels, and airlines responded with record efficiency. On average, 83.5% of all available seats were occupied, a new record—partly due to supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth," Walsh said.
Looking ahead, he predicted moderate growth of 8.0% in 2025, aligning more closely with historical averages.
Walsh also addressed key industry challenges:
- Safety: “The tragic accident in Washington reminds us that safety requires our ongoing efforts. Our thoughts are with those affected. We will never stop working to make aviation even safer.”
- Sustainability: While airlines invested record amounts in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2024, SAF accounted for less than 0.5% of total fuel needs.
- Government Policy: Walsh urged governments to prioritize renewable fuel production, arguing that redirecting a fraction of fossil fuel subsidies toward renewable energy capacity would enhance economic growth and job creation.
International Passenger Market Trends
Global international traffic in 2024 exceeded 2019 levels by 0.5%, with growth across all regions.
Regional Breakdown
- Latin America: Passenger traffic grew 14.4%, capacity rose 14.3%, and the load factor reached 84.8%—the highest among all regions. December demand increased 11.3% year-over-year.
- Asia-Pacific: The region saw the highest annual growth, with 26.0% more international traffic than in 2023. However, demand remained 8.7% below 2019 levels, indicating further recovery potential.
- Europe: Annual traffic grew 9.7%, with a 9.2% capacity increase and a load factor of 84.1%.
- Middle East: Passenger demand increased 9.4%, capacity rose 8.4%, and the load factor improved to 80.8%.
- North America: Traffic grew 6.8%, but the load factor dropped by 0.5 points to 84.2%.
- Africa: Traffic increased 13.2%, capacity grew 9.5%, and the load factor rose to 74.5%, marking a record high for the region.
Domestic Passenger Market Highlights
Domestic passenger demand and load factors hit record highs in 2024.
- China led growth, with a 12.3% increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) compared to 2023.
- Japan saw a 3.2% increase, despite a 0.3% capacity reduction.
- India had the highest domestic load factor (86.4%), despite a slight 0.6-point decline.
With sustained demand and growing international recovery, 2025 is expected to continue the aviation industry’s post-pandemic expansion, albeit at a slower, more stable pace.
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