Global air transport demand maintained steady growth in November 2025, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Both passenger and cargo segments showed positive dynamics, while aircraft load factors reached record levels in several regions, signaling resilient demand despite ongoing challenges in the aviation industry, DKNews.kz reports.
Passenger traffic sets new November record
IATA reports that total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 5.7 percent year-on-year in November. At the same time, capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), grew by 5.4 percent. As a result, the global passenger load factor reached 83.7 percent, the highest ever recorded for November.
IATA
International travel continued to lead the recovery, with demand rising by 7.7 percent, while domestic passenger traffic grew by a more modest 2.7 percent.
Regional trends show mixed picture
From a regional perspective, Africa recorded the fastest growth in passenger demand. Solid growth was also observed in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Europe.
In contrast, North America saw its passenger load factor decline year-on-year for the tenth consecutive month, reflecting ongoing market adjustments. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on specific markets, with passenger traffic growth between China and Japan slowing to single digits for the first time in 2025.
Among domestic markets, Brazil and India posted the strongest growth, while the United States was the only major domestic market to register a decline in demand, likely linked to a temporary government shutdown.
IATA: supply constraints remain a key challenge
Commenting on the results, IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that airlines are managing strong demand despite significant capacity constraints.
“Demand for air travel remained strong in November 2025, with load factors reaching new record levels. Airlines continue to respond effectively to growing passenger demand despite ongoing supply chain challenges in the aerospace sector. In the year ahead, increasing aircraft production will be critical to meeting airline needs and beginning to reduce the order backlog, which now exceeds 17,000 aircraft,” Walsh said.
Air cargo demand remains resilient
The air cargo market also ended 2025 on a solid footing. Global cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 5.5 percent year-on-year in November, while international cargo demand rose by 6.9 percent. Cargo capacity expanded by 4.7 percent.
The strongest growth in cargo demand was recorded by:
- African carriers (+15.6 percent)
- Asia-Pacific carriers (+10.3 percent)
Meanwhile, cargo demand declined in North America (-1.6 percent) and Latin America (-4.8 percent), reflecting regional economic adjustments and trade policy changes.
IATA
Trade routes support cargo growth
Growth in air cargo volumes was observed across most major trade lanes, with particularly strong performance on:
- Intra-Asia routes
- Europe–Asia routes
According to IATA, this reflects both resilient demand from emerging markets and a strategic reconfiguration of global trade routes.
“The air cargo sector closed 2025 with stable performance. Strong demand from emerging markets and the rebalancing of trade lanes helped the industry adapt to changes stemming from US trade policy and continue supporting global supply chains,” Walsh added.
Outlook for 2026
IATA believes that the solid performance in the final quarter of 2025 provides a positive foundation for the aviation industry entering the new year. While demand remains strong, addressing aircraft delivery delays and stabilizing supply chains will be key challenges for 2026.
