IATA: Pax, cargo demand both rise in July

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for July 2025 global passenger demand showing total demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 4.0% compared to July 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 4.4% year-on-year. The July load factor was 85.5% (-0.4 ppt compared to July 2024). International demand rose 5.3% compared to July 2024. Capacity was up 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6% (-0.4 ppt compared to July 2024). Domestic demand increased 1.9% compared to July 2024. Capacity was up 2.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.2% (-0.4 ppt compared to July 2024). Willie Walsh, director General of IATA. (PHOTO: IATA) “It’s been a good northern summer season for airlines. Momentum has grown over the peak season with July demand reaching 4% growth. That trend appears across all regions and is particularly evident for international travel, which strengthened from 3.9% growth in June to 5.3% in July. Moreover, with flight volumes showing a 2% year-on-year increase for September after five months of decelerating growth, airlines are positioned to take advantage of this market momentum into the coming months,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. Air passenger market in detail – July 2025 July 2025 (% year-on-year) World share1 RPK ASK PLF (%-pt) PLF (level) Total Market 100% 4.0% 4.4% -0.4% 85.5% Africa 2.2% 3.9% 4.4% -0.3% 75.1% Asia Pacific 33.5% 5.7% 5.6% 0.0% 83.2% Europe 26.7% 2.9% 3.2% -0.2% 88.0% Latin America and Caribbean 5.3% 7.2% 7.5% -0.3% 85.7% Middle East 9.4% 5.4% 5.9% -0.4% 83.8% North America 22.9% 1.9% 3.0% -1.0% 87.5% 1% of industry RPKs in 2024 Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets  International RPK growth reached 5.3% in July year-on-year, but load factors fell in all regions except Africa. Asia-Pacific airlines achieved an 8.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.0% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.8% (-0.2 ppt compared to July 2024). European carriers had a 4.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.3% (-0.2 ppt compared to July 2024). North American carriers saw a 2.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 3.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 88.4% (-1.0 ppt compared to July 2024). International traffic routes for the Americas were all positive except for traffic between North America and South America which declined 0.8%. Middle Eastern carriers saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose by  5.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.1% (-0.2 ppt compared to July 2024). Middle East growth rebounded after the disruptions caused by the military conflict in June. Latin American airlines saw a 9.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 11.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.8% (-1.6 ppt compared to July 2024). Intra-regional traffic was particularly strong. African airlines saw a 2.8% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 2.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.9% (up 0.4 ppt compared to July 2024). Traffic on routes between Africa and Asia had a notable surge. Domestic Passenger Markets July 2025 (% year-on-year) World share1 RPK ASK PLF (%-pt) PLF (level) Domestic 38.2% 1.9% 2.4% -0.4% 85.2% Dom. Australia 0.8% 4.3% 3.0% 1.0% 85.1% Dom. Brazil 1.1% 9.4% 7.5% 1.5% 85.8% Dom. China P.R. 11.3% 3.8% 4.8% -0.8% 82.1% Dom. Japan 1.0% 2.9% -1.2% 3.3% 81.4% Dom. US 14.4% 1.5% 2.4% -0.8% 87.0% 1% of industry RPKs in 2024 Note: the five domestic passenger markets for which individual data are available account for approximately 28.6% of global total RPKs Domestic RPK rose 1.9% over July 2024 and load factor fell by 0.4 ppt to 85.2% on the back of a 2.4% capacity expansion. Brazil was once again the strongest performer. Japan’s 81.4% load factor is a record high for July since at least the year 2000. July Air Cargo Up 5.5% (PHOTO: Korean Air) IATA also said total air cargo demand measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK) rose by 5.5% compared to July 2024 levels (+6.0% for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 3.9% compared to July 2024 (+4.5% for international operations). “Air cargo demand grew 5.5% in July, a strong result. Most major trade lanes reported growth, with one significant exception: Asia–North America, where demand was down 1.0% year-on-year. A sharp decline in e-commerce, as the US de minimis exemptions on small shipments expired, was likely offset by shippers frontloading goods in advance of rising tariffs for imports to the US. August will likely reveal more clearly the impact of shifting US trade policies. While much attention is rightly being focused on developments in markets connected to the US, it is important to keep a broad perspective on the global network. A fifth of air cargo travels on the Europe–Asia trade lane, which marked 29 months of consecutive expansion with 13.5% year-on-year growth in July,” said IATA’s  Walsh. IATA said several factors in the operating environment should be noted including: The global goods trade grew by 3.1% year-on-year in June; The July jet fuel price was 9.1% lower year-on-year and has remained below 2024 levels so far this year, easing airlines’ operating costs. However, it was 4.3% higher than in June. Global manufacturing contracted in July with the PMI falling to 49.66, the second dip below the 50-mark growth threshold since January. New export orders also remained negative at 48.2 for the fourth month, reflecting waning confidence amid US trade policy uncertainty. Air cargo market in detail – July 2025 July 2025 (% year-on-year) World share1 CTK ACTK CLF (%-pt) CLF (level) Total Market 100% 5.5% 3.9% 0.7% 45.1% Africa 2.0% 9.4% -0.1% 4.1% 46.8% Asia Pacific 34.2% 11.1% 7.3% 1.7% 49.3% Europe 21.5% 4.1% 4.0% 0% 49.5% Latin America and Caribbean 2.9% 2.4% 3.8% -0.4% 33.6% Middle East 13.6% 2.6% 5.9% -1.4% 44.6% North America 25.8% 0.7% -0.6% 0.5% 39.0% 1% of industry CTKs in 2024 July Regional Performance Asia-Pacific airlines saw an 11.1% year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in July, the strongest rise of all regions. Capacity increased by 7.3% year-on-year. North American carriers saw a 0.7% year-on-year increase in growth for air cargo in July, the slowest growth of all regions. Capacity decreased by 0.6% year-on-year. European carriers saw a 4.1% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in July. Capacity increased 4.0% year-on-year. Middle Eastern carriers saw a 2.6% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in July. Capacity increased by 5.9% year-on-year. Latin American carriers saw a 2.4% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in July. Capacity increased by 3.8% year-on-year. African airlines saw a 9.4% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in July. Capacity decreased by 0.1% year-on-year. Trade Lane Growth: Air freight volumes in July 2025 increased significantly across all major trade corridors, with the exception of Middle East–Europe, which recorded only a marginal rise, and Asia–North America, which has seen three consecutive months of decline. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]