IATA: Pax demand slips in August while cargo rises 4.4%

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for August 2026 global passenger demand showing total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was down 0.8% compared to August 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.6%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 0.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.1% (-0.9 ppt compared to August 2025). International demand fell 0.9% compared to August 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.3%. Capacity was flat (0.0%) year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.0% (-0.8 ppt compared to August 2025).  Domestic demand fell 0.5% compared to August 2025. Capacity increased 0.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.3% (-1.1 ppt during the same reference period). (PHOTO: Shutterstock) “Global demand for air transport contracted by 0.8% compared to August 2025 as the recovery trajectory for carriers in the Middle East was interrupted. The region’s carriers reported that demand was 14.6% lower year-on-year, reversing an improving trend,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability, and Chief Economist. “Excluding the Middle East carriers, demand for air travel grew by 0.6% year-on-year in August, half the pace seen in July. With some important exceptions such as domestic China, global connectivity was generally weaker in August. The coming months will reveal whether travelers, whose purchasing power has been reduced by higher energy prices, are adjusting their travel budgets, and might be discouraged from traveling due to the prevailing geopolitical instability. In the meantime, forward schedules for October are showing cautious optimism with 2.0% growth in available seats.” Air passenger market in detail – August 2026 August 2026 (% year-on-year) World share1 RPK ASK PLF (%-pt) PLF (level) Total Market 100% -0.8% 0.3% -0.9 85.1% Africa 2.2% 4.4% 7.2% -2.1 77.5% Asia Pacific 34.4% 1.4% 1.3% 0.1 85.9% Europe 26.7% 0.7% 1.4% -0.6 87.5% Latin America and Caribbean 5.4% 5.3% 6.3% -0.8 84.0% Middle East 9.5% -14.6% -9.3% -4.9 78.9% North America 21.8% -2.2% -1.0% -1.0 84.6% 1% of industry RPKs in 2025 Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets  International RPK fell 0.9% year-on-year, with capacity unchanged. However, excluding the Middle East carriers, total demand rose 1.3% on the same basis. Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 0.1% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity decreased 0.9% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6% (+0.7 ppt compared to August 2025). Traffic on routes within Asia fell 2.0% and capacity declined for the fourth month in a row. By contrast, traffic on the Asia-North America corridor grew by 2.5%. European carriers saw a 2.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose 2.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 86.8% (-0.6 ppt compared to August 2025). The Europe-Asia corridor continued to expand strongly (+12.2%) but transatlantic routes fell 2.4%, with traffic declining from several markets including the UK and France. North American carriers saw a decrease in demand of 1.7% year-on-year. Capacity decreased 1.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 86.8% (-0.5 ppt compared to August 2025). ​​​​​​​ Middle Eastern carriers saw a 14.2% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity fell 9.0% year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.1% (-4.8 ppt compared to August 2025). The decline in traffic worsened in August, reversing the trend of gradual stabilization since the Iran war in February. The year-on-year contraction on Middle East-Asia routes, for example, accelerated to -11.7% from -8.6% in July.​​​​​​​ Latin American airlines achieved a 6.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 6.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.8% (+0.2 ppt compared to August 2025). African airlines saw a 6.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 8.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 78.4% (-1.2 ppt compared to August 2025). Domestic Passenger Markets Domestic RPK fell 0.5% in August 2026 compared to the same month last year. Domestic travel in Japan and the United States fell, and there was a particularly sharp contraction in India (-7.5%). Chinese domestic travel strengthened, supported by summer travel demand. Air cargo demand grows 4.4% in August (PHOTO: Korean Air) IATA also released released data for August 2026 global air cargo markets showing total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 4.4% compared to August 2025 (+5.3% for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), decreased by 0.1% compared to August 2025 (+0.1% for international operations). “Air cargo demand rose 4.4% year-on-year in August with all regions reporting growth even as capacity was trimmed by 0.1%. Strong demand and higher load factors helped airlines to recoup some of the exceptionally high fuel costs. Yields rose month-on-month for the first time since April, while global goods trade growth continues. Both are positive signs as the year-end peak season comes into view,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist. Several factors in the operating environment should be noted: Global trade increased by 6.0% year-on-year in July, extending the run of consecutive monthly expansions to 33 months, on a year-on-year basis. Jet fuel prices rose by 8.3% month-on-month in August and were 79.2% higher than a year earlier. Global manufacturing activity increased in August. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased 0.3 points to 53.0, while the New Export Orders Index rose 1.4 points to 51.4. Both indicators remained supportive of air cargo demand. Air cargo market in detail – August 2026 August 2026 (% year-on-year) World share1 CTK ACTK CLF (%-pt) CLF (level) Total Market 100% 4.4% -0.1% 2.0 46.0% Africa 2.1% 3.0% 14.0% -3.9 36.5% Asia Pacific 35.8% 4.3% 1.2% 1.5 48.6% Europe 21.4% 4.1% -3.5% 3.9 53.0% Latin America and Caribbean 2.9% 5.1% 3.3% 0.6 34.9% Middle East 13.2% 1.0% 3.3% -1.0 43.1% North America 24.6% 6.6% -2.5% 3.6 42.0% 1% of industry CTK in 2025 August Regional Performance Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 4.3% year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in August. Capacity increased by 1.2% year-on-year. North American carriers saw a 6.6% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in August, the strongest performance of all regions. Capacity decreased by 2.5% year-on-year. European carriers saw a 4.1% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in August. Capacity decreased by 3.5% year-on-year. Middle Eastern carriers saw a 1.0% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in August, the weakest of all regions. Capacity increased by 3.3% year-on-year. Latin American and Caribbean carriers saw a 5.1% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in August. Capacity increased by 3.3% year-on-year. African airlines saw a 3.0% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in August. Capacity increased by 14.0% year-on-year. Trade Lane Growth Air cargo performance diverged across major trade lanes in August. Asia–North America recorded the strongest growth, followed by within Asia, Europe–North America, and Europe–Asia. In contrast, Gulf-linked corridors remained disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]