Global air travel drops 2.2% in May as Middle East conflict hits demand, IATA says

Global air passenger demand declined in May 2026, with geopolitical disruption and uneven domestic performance weighing on the industry, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, fell 2.2% year on year, while capacity dropped 2.3%. Despite the decline in volumes, airlines maintained strong utilisation, with the global load factor reaching a record 83.5% for May.

International traffic fell 1.6% compared with May 2025, although performance varied sharply by region. Excluding the Middle East, international demand grew 3.1%, underscoring underlying resilience in most markets. Europe, Latin America, and Africa all recorded growth, supported by steady travel demand and high seat occupancy.

By contrast, the Middle East remained the largest drag on global figures, with demand down more than 28% year on year due to the ongoing impact of regional conflict. Although still deeply negative, the rate of decline improved from April, suggesting some stabilisation. Asia Pacific (APAC) also showed mixed signals, while North America posted modest gains in international traffic but weaker domestic performance overall.

Domestic markets contracted 3.1%, driven primarily by declines in China and the US. Industry analysts linked the weakness to a combination of pricing pressure, seasonal timing effects, and softer leisure demand.