High demand for September air travel
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported record levels of demand in September
IATA reported that total demand for air travel in September 2024 was up 7.1% year on year in terms of revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), while total capacity – measured in available seat kilometres (ASK) – was up 5.8%. The load factor for the month was 83.6%.
The rise was driven by a surge in international travel, with demand for that sector growing by 9.2% in September 2024 compared with the same month in 2023. Much of this reflected a 9.1% year-on-year increase in capacity.
Domestic travel also rose by 3.7% for the month compared with September 2023, with capacity for that sector up 0.7% year on year.
Asia Pacific leads the global rise in demand
This growth was reflected across all regions worldwide, with airlines in Asia Pacific achieving the highest increase in demand at 18.5% year on year, alongside a 17.7% increase in capacity.
Latin American and African airlines saw 12.4% and 11.9% year-on-year increases in demand respectively, with capacity climbing by 13.9% and 6.6% in each region.
European and Middle Eastern carriers saw year-on-year demand increases of 7.6% and 4.4%, with capacity rising by 7.4% and 4.6% in each region.
North American carriers saw the lowest rise in demand at only 0.5%, despite an increase in capacity of 1.9%.
“The year’s peak travel season ended with demand at an all-time high,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “This is good news not just for passengers but also for the global economy. Every flight creates more jobs and trade. But the air travel success story is bringing challenges.”
He warned: “We will soon face a capacity crunch in some regions, which threatens to curtail these economic and social benefits. Governments will face a choice: lose out to more dynamic nations who value global connectivity, or forge a consensus for sustainable growth. That needs to be accompanied by an equally active political vision, backed up by actions, to ensure we have efficient and sufficient airport and air traffic management capacity to meet the needs of citizens and businesses to travel.”
The news follows a similar rise in global demand for air travel reported in June.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.