- Global air passenger demand contracted by 0.8pc in August 2026 compared to August 2025
- Middle East carriers reported demand 14.6pc lower year-on-year
- Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.6pc
- Total capacity increased by 0.3pc year-on-year
- The load factor was 85.1pc, down 0.9 percentage points
The International Air Transport Association has released data showing global passenger demand contracted by 0.8pc in August 2026 compared to the same month in 2025. Total capacity increased by 0.3pc year-on-year. The load factor stood at 85.1pc, down 0.9 percentage points compared to August 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.6pc.
International demand fell 0.9pc compared to August 2025. Capacity remained flat year-on-year and the load factor was 85.0pc. Domestic demand fell 0.5pc while capacity increased 0.7pc year-on-year. The domestic load factor was 85.3pc.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, shared global demand for air transport contracted by 0.8pc compared to August 2025 as the recovery trajectory for carriers in the Middle East was interrupted. The region’s carriers reported that demand was 14.6pc lower year-on-year, reversing an improving trend. Excluding Middle East carriers, demand for air travel grew by 0.6pc year-on-year in August, half the pace seen in July.
