For global aviation, 2025 became a year of solid, sustained growth – but also a year that clearly exposed the industry’s structural limits. Passenger demand continued to rise, air cargo posted strong results, yet airlines increasingly ran up against aircraft shortages, supply chain disruptions and the urgent need to accelerate decarbonization.
These conclusions follow from the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), summarizing full-year results for 2025 as well as performance in December, DKNews.kz reports.
Passenger traffic: growth stabilizes after the post-pandemic surge
In 2025, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 5.3% compared with 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 5.2% year-on-year. The average passenger load factor reached 83.6%, marking a record annual level for the industry.
International traffic continued to outperform domestic markets. International RPKs grew by 7.1%, capacity increased by 6.8%, and the load factor reached 83.5%, also a record for international operations.
Domestic demand grew more modestly, up 2.4%, while capacity expanded by 2.5%. The domestic load factor stood at 83.7%, slightly below the 2024 level.
December confirmed a strong end to the year: total demand rose by 5.6%, capacity increased by 5.9%, and the load factor remained at 83.7%.
“In 2025, demand for air travel grew by 5.3%, with international demand up 7.1% and domestic demand up 2.4%. After the sharp post-COVID recovery, the industry returned to more normal, historically sustainable growth rates,” said Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA.
Growth highlights two critical challenges
According to IATA, this steady growth once again brought the industry’s key long-term challenges into focus.
“However, this steady growth clearly highlighted two key challenges for aviation – decarbonization and supply chain issues,” Willie Walsh emphasized.
He stressed that decarbonization remains central to aviation’s future.
“Decarbonization is fundamental to the long-term development of the industry. Countries whose economies benefit directly from aviation and for whom connectivity is strategically important need to put in place supportive fiscal policies. This is particularly critical for accelerating energy sector development and scaling up the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF),” Walsh said.
Regional performance: Asia leads, North America lags
The Asia-Pacific region delivered the strongest passenger growth in 2025, with demand up 7.8% and a load factor of 84.2%.
Europe recorded 5.3% growth, while achieving the highest load factor globally at 84.8%. The Middle East posted 6.8% growth, and Africa saw demand rise by 9.4%. Although African carriers had the lowest load factors, the result still represented a record for the region.
By contrast, North America showed the weakest performance. Passenger demand grew by just 0.4%, while the load factor fell by 1.3 percentage points, the largest decline among all regions.
Air cargo: the standout performer of 2025
Air cargo emerged as one of the strongest segments of global aviation in 2025. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 3.4%, while international cargo demand rose by 4.2%. Capacity (ACTK) grew by 3.7%, with international capacity expanding by 5.1%.
December capped off the year on a strong note, with global cargo demand up 4.3%, and international demand rising 5.5% year-on-year.
“In 2025, the air cargo segment delivered solid performance, with demand growing by 3.4% year-on-year,” Willie Walsh said.
He noted that global e-commerce played a decisive role.
“A key driver was the growth of global e-commerce, despite increasingly complex trade relations with the United States, including higher tariffs, the removal of de minimis exemptions, and continued uncertainty in trade policy,” Walsh stated.
Asia strengthens its position, North America loses ground
Asia-Pacific airlines posted the strongest cargo demand growth worldwide at 8.4%. Africa followed with 6.0%, while Europe recorded 2.9% growth.
North America was the only region to record a decline in cargo demand, down 1.3%, reflecting the slowdown and restructuring of trade flows between the US and Asia.
“The industry adapted quickly to these conditions, supporting global business and accelerating shipments ahead of new tariffs, while also adjusting to growing demand within Asia and between Asia and Europe,” Walsh said.
Global cargo routes are being reshaped
IATA data shows a clear shift in global air cargo flows during 2025. Traffic moved away from the Asia–North America corridor toward Asia–Europe, driven by tariff pressure and policy changes in the US.
Demand on the Europe–Asia route grew by 10.3%, while intra-Asia traffic rose by 10.0%. By contrast, Asia–North America traffic declined by 0.8%, losing market share.
Looking ahead to 2026
IATA expects cargo growth to moderate in 2026, with demand projected to increase by around 2.4%, in line with long-term historical trends.
“Regardless of how trade flows evolve, air cargo will continue to play a vital role in ensuring the resilience of global supply chains,” Willie Walsh said.
“Airlines will respond to these challenges by managing capacity flexibly and designing route networks with maximum adaptability,” he added.
