The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its full-year and December 2024 passenger market performance report, showing that global air passenger demand reached an all-time high in 2024.

The total passenger traffic increased by 10.4% compared to 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 3.8%. This growth demonstrates the resilience and popularity of air travel, despite ongoing challenges in the global economy.

Key highlights

• International passenger traffic rose by 13.6% in 2024, with capacity increasing by 12.8%. This growth was driven by the ongoing recovery in international travel, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Domestic passenger traffic grew by 5.7% in 2024, with capacity expanding by 2.5%. This growth was led by China, which saw a 12.3% increase in domestic passenger traffic.
• The overall load factor reached a record high of 83.5% in 2024, which showed that airlines were able to efficiently meet growing demands.
• Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.4% increase in passenger traffic in 2024, driven by the region’s strategic location and growing popularity as a tourism hub.

Regional performance

• Asia-Pacific airlines reported a 26.0% rise in international passenger traffic in 2024, driven by the ongoing recovery in travel demand in the region.
• European carriers saw a 9.7% increase in passenger traffic in 2024, despite ongoing economic challenges in the region.
• North American airlines reported a 6.8% rise in passenger traffic in 2024, driven by the ongoing growth in demand for air travel in the region.
• Latin American airlines posted a 14.4% increase in passenger traffic in 2024, driven by the region’s growing economies and increasing demand for air travel.
• African airlines saw a 13.2% rise in passenger traffic in 2024, driven by the region’s growing economies and increasing demand for air travel.

Outlook for 2025

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, highlighted the resilience of the air travel industry in 2024, with a 10.4% increase in demand growth and record numbers of passengers traveling domestically and internationally. Airlines efficiently met this demand, achieving a record-high load factor of 83.5%.

Looking ahead to 2025, Walsh expects demand growth to continue at a moderate pace of 8.0%. However, this growth also brings two key challenges to the forefront: safety and sustainability. He stressed that the industry must continue to prioritise safety, while also working towards its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To support this goal, he suggests governments playing a crucial role by prioritising renewable fuel production and redirecting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.