The International Air Transport Association revealed data showing total demand for air travel, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, increased by 5.7pc compared to November 2024.
Total capacity, in available seat kilometres, rose by 5.4pc year-on-year, leading to the load factor reaching 83.7pc, up 0.3pc from the previous year. International demand grew by 7.7pc, with capacity up 7.1pc, and the international load factor hit 84.0pc, a rise of 0.4pc. Domestic demand saw a 2.7pc increase, matched by capacity growth, keeping the load factor steady at 83.2pc.
In regional breakdowns, African airlines led with an 11.2pc rise in international demand, capacity up 8.5pc, and load factor at 74.3pc, up 1.8pc. Asia-Pacific carriers reported a 9.3pc demand growth internationally, with capacity increasing 8.7pc and load factor at 85.8pc, up 0.5pc. European carriers experienced a 6.8pc demand increase, capacity up 6.1pc, and load factor at 85.6pc, also up 0.5pc. Middle Eastern carriers saw demand up 9.6pc, capacity rising 9.2pc, and load factor at 81.4pc, up 0.3pc.
North American carriers had international demand growth of 4.0pc, with capacity up 4.2pc and load factor at 81.0pc, down 0.1pc. Latin American airlines reported a 4.4pc demand rise, capacity up 4.7pc, and load factor at 83.9pc, down 0.2pc. Domestically, Brazil and India showed strong growth at 8.3pc and 7.7pc respectively, while the US saw a 1.8pc decline in demand.
Total global demand rose 5.7pc year-on-year with load factor at a record 83.7pc for November.
International demand increased 7.7pc, achieving a November record load factor of 84.0pc.
Domestic demand grew 2.7pc, with load factor unchanged at 83.2pc.
African airlines topped international growth at 11.2pc, followed by Middle Eastern at 9.6pc.
North America faced 10 consecutive months of year-on-year load factor declines in total traffic.
Willie Walsh shared “November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year-on-year growth of 5.7pc. Load factors reached a new record of 83.7pc for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain. The new year’s resolution for the manufacturing sector must be to increase production to meet the needs of their airline customers. The backlog of more than 17,000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026.”
