April's seat demand rose 11pc - IATA

BTN News
Friday, 31 May 2024

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says total April passenger demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 11.0 per cent compared to April 2023. 


Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 9.6 per cent year-on-year. The April load factor was 82.4 per cent (+1.0ppt compared to April 2023). 

•    International demand rose 15.8 per cent compared to April 2023; capacity was up 14.8 per cent year-on-year and the load factor improved to 82.2 per cent (+0.7ppt on April 2023). 

•    Domestic demand rose four per cent compared to April 2023; capacity was up 2.1 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6 per cent (+1.5ppt compared to April 2023). 

“Passenger demand has been growing for 36 consecutive months. As we enter the peak northern summer travel season, there is every reason to feel optimistic for a strong summer with airlines offering a wide range of travel options. 97 per cent of passengers asked in our recent survey said they were satisfied with their last flight. Every part of the travel value chain needs to be focused on maintaining that,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

The IATA Passenger Survey also revealed 88 per cent agreement that ’air travel makes my life better’.  

“That’s an important motivation as our members gather for the IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai next week. This strong endorsement of the power of air connectivity to transform lives and boost economies brings with it a challenge that will also be on the minds of all attending. It is critically important that we achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 so that people can continue to rely on all the benefits of air travel,” said Walsh.
 


Regional breakdown - international passenger markets

All regions showed strong growth for international passenger markets in April 2024 compared to April 2023. The load factor increased to a two-year high, and capacity increases were well-matched to demand.

Asia-Pacific airlines continue to lead the way, with a 32.1 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 29.3 per cent year-on-year and the load factor rose to 83.7 per cent (+1.7ppt compared to April 2023). Traffic flows from the Middle East and Africa to Asia are notably strong.

European carriers saw a 10.1 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 10.0 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.3 per cent (up just 0.1ppt compared to April 2023). International routes from Europe have surpassed pre-Covid levels to all regions except Africa. 

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 14.2 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.9 per cent year-on-year and the load factor increased +3.0ppt to 79.3 per cent compared to April 2023. 

North American carriers saw a 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 10.3 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor fell to 81.0 per cent (-2.9ppt compared to April 2023). 

Latin American airlines saw a 14.5 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 13.5 per cent year-on-year. The load factor rose to 84.1 per cent (+0.7ppt compared to April 2023), the highest among the regions.

African airlines saw an 15.5 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 10.4 per cent year-on-year. The load factor rose to 73.0 per cent (+3.2ppt compared to April 2023).

 

Domestic markets

Domestic demand increased at a slower pace in April. China’s growth rate moderated to 4.2 per cent reflecting the end of the holiday surge. Japan’s almost flat performance is explained by the end of the fiscal year and the start of the school spring holiday. Overall, Japan’s RPK trend remains positive. 

Note: the six domestic passenger markets for which broken-down data are available account for approximately 31.4 per cent of global total RPKs and 78.8 per cent of total domestic RPKs.

April's seat demand rose 11pc - IATA

BTN News
Friday, 31 May 2024

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says total April passenger demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 11.0 per cent compared to April 2023. 


Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 9.6 per cent year-on-year. The April load factor was 82.4 per cent (+1.0ppt compared to April 2023). 

•    International demand rose 15.8 per cent compared to April 2023; capacity was up 14.8 per cent year-on-year and the load factor improved to 82.2 per cent (+0.7ppt on April 2023). 

•    Domestic demand rose four per cent compared to April 2023; capacity was up 2.1 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6 per cent (+1.5ppt compared to April 2023). 

“Passenger demand has been growing for 36 consecutive months. As we enter the peak northern summer travel season, there is every reason to feel optimistic for a strong summer with airlines offering a wide range of travel options. 97 per cent of passengers asked in our recent survey said they were satisfied with their last flight. Every part of the travel value chain needs to be focused on maintaining that,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

The IATA Passenger Survey also revealed 88 per cent agreement that ’air travel makes my life better’.  

“That’s an important motivation as our members gather for the IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai next week. This strong endorsement of the power of air connectivity to transform lives and boost economies brings with it a challenge that will also be on the minds of all attending. It is critically important that we achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 so that people can continue to rely on all the benefits of air travel,” said Walsh.
 


Regional breakdown - international passenger markets

All regions showed strong growth for international passenger markets in April 2024 compared to April 2023. The load factor increased to a two-year high, and capacity increases were well-matched to demand.

Asia-Pacific airlines continue to lead the way, with a 32.1 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 29.3 per cent year-on-year and the load factor rose to 83.7 per cent (+1.7ppt compared to April 2023). Traffic flows from the Middle East and Africa to Asia are notably strong.

European carriers saw a 10.1 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 10.0 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.3 per cent (up just 0.1ppt compared to April 2023). International routes from Europe have surpassed pre-Covid levels to all regions except Africa. 

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 14.2 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.9 per cent year-on-year and the load factor increased +3.0ppt to 79.3 per cent compared to April 2023. 

North American carriers saw a 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 10.3 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor fell to 81.0 per cent (-2.9ppt compared to April 2023). 

Latin American airlines saw a 14.5 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 13.5 per cent year-on-year. The load factor rose to 84.1 per cent (+0.7ppt compared to April 2023), the highest among the regions.

African airlines saw an 15.5 per cent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 10.4 per cent year-on-year. The load factor rose to 73.0 per cent (+3.2ppt compared to April 2023).

 

Domestic markets

Domestic demand increased at a slower pace in April. China’s growth rate moderated to 4.2 per cent reflecting the end of the holiday surge. Japan’s almost flat performance is explained by the end of the fiscal year and the start of the school spring holiday. Overall, Japan’s RPK trend remains positive. 

Note: the six domestic passenger markets for which broken-down data are available account for approximately 31.4 per cent of global total RPKs and 78.8 per cent of total domestic RPKs.