Global air passenger traffic demand in July increased by 4 per cent year-on-year, as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The monthly performance was an improvement on June’s 2.6 per cent year-on-year increase in traffic when conflicts in the Middle East impacted demand for flights.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said: “It’s been a good northern summer season for airlines. Momentum has grown over the peak season. That trend appears across all regions and is particularly evident for international travel, which strengthened from 3.9 per cent growth in June to 5.3 per cent in July.”
Total global airline capacity in July as measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 4.4 per cent year-on-year, with the month’s load factor dipping by 0.4 percentage points to 85.5 per cent.
In Europe, total air traffic rose by 2.9 per cent year-on-year in July, while capacity was up by 3.2 per cent with a load factor of 88 per cent – the highest level of any region in the world.
Elsewhere, Latin America saw the largest regional rise in RPKs at 7.2 per cent in July followed by the Asia-Pacific region at 5.7 per cent. IATA noted that international demand increased year-on-year in every global region during July, with North America recording the lowest increase at 1.9 per cent.
Walsh also expressed optimism about the picture for global air travel demand over the next few months.
“With flight volumes showing a 2 per cent year-on-year increase for September after five months of decelerating growth, airlines are positioned to take advantage of this market momentum into the coming months,” he added.