IATA data for July 2026 show global passenger demand rose 0.2% from a year earlier, with growth excluding the Middle East reaching 1.2% as the regional drag continued to ease. International demand slipped 0.1% overall, but domestic traffic increased 0.6% and the global load factor held at 85.2%.
Middle East carriers recorded the weakest regional performance, with passenger demand down 9.5% year on year, even as traffic through Gulf hubs continued to recover from earlier disruption. Capacity in the region also remained under pressure, and the load factor trailed other markets. Excluding Middle Eastern airlines, international demand rose 1.5%, highlighting broader resilience across the global market.
The Northern summer travel period remained mostly positive, and carriers expect second-half demand to stay firm. IATA also planned about 3% more seat capacity for September, indicating airlines are still adding supply despite uneven regional conditions.