Global passenger demand for air travel rose 3.3% year-on-year in March 2025, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This marked a slight improvement from the 2.7% growth in February, though total capacity expanded faster at 5.3% in available seat kilometers (ASK), resulting in a load factor of 80.7%, down 1.6 percentage points from the previous year.
International demand increased 4.9% compared to March 2024, with capacity up 7.0% and a load factor of 79.9%, down 1.7 percentage points. Domestic demand grew more modestly at 0.9%, as capacity rose 2.5% and the load factor fell 1.3 percentage points to 82.0%.
Regional performances varied widely. Asia-Pacific airlines led with 9.9% demand growth, though capacity surged 11.6% and the load factor dropped 1.3 percentage points to 84.1%. European carriers saw 4.9% growth, with capacity up 6.9% and load factor at 78.2%, down 1.5 points. Latin American airlines reported 7.7% demand rise amid 12.1% capacity increase, load factor falling 3.3 points to 80.9%. African carriers achieved 3.3% growth with 3.5% capacity expansion, load factor at 70.1%.
Middle Eastern carriers faced a 1.0% demand decline, linked to Ramadan timing, with capacity up 2.8% and load factor down 2.9 points to 74.6%. North American carriers saw a 0.1% drop, improving from February’s 1.5% decline, as capacity rose 2.0% and load factor fell 1.8 points to 83.0%.
In domestic markets, Brazil and India posted strong gains of 8.9% and 11.0%, respectively, while the US and Australia reported declines of 1.7% and 1.2%.