Global air passenger demand in October remained strong, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA is the representative body for the global airline industry.) Total demand that month rose 7.1%, year-on-year (y-o-y), while international demand was up by 9.5%, and domestic demand increased by 3.5%.
IATA also stated that although Europe had the highest load factors, African airlines capacity was up to 5.3 per cent year-on-year and load factor rose to 73.2 per cent.
In its released data for October 2024, the air transport association said total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, was up 7.1 per cent compared to October 2023.
The data stated: “Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, was up 6.1 per cent year-on-year. The October load factor was 83.9 per cent .
“International demand rose 9.5% compared to October 2023. Capacity was up 8.6 per cent year-on-year and the load factor rose to 83.5 per cent.
“Domestic demand rose 3.5 per cent compared to October 2023. Capacity was up 2.0 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 84.5 per cent.”
Commenting on the development, IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, said: “Continued strong and stable demand is good news, but just as important is the steady improvement in load factors. It shows what a great job the industry is doing in flying people more efficiently.
“Average seat factors have risen from around 67 per cent in the 1990’s to over 83 per cent today. Politicians thinking of trying to tax passengers off planes to reduce emissions would do well to note this. Even if fewer people fly because taxes make it too expensive, it doesn’t automatically mean reduced emissions because the planes will still fly, just with fewer passengers. That would reverse decades of hard won progress. We need to see the planes full to generate the economic and social benefits of travel with the most minimal emissions possible.”
