Global air passenger demand continued to grow in November 2025, with traffic rising 5.7% year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Capacity increased by 5.4%, allowing airlines to accommodate demand while pushing the global load factor to a record 83.7% for the month, the highest ever recorded for November.
International travel remained the main growth driver, with demand up 7.7% compared to November 2024 and load factors reaching a record 84.0%. Africa stood out as the fastest-growing region, while Asia-Pacific and Europe also posted solid gains. Domestic markets grew more modestly at 2.7%, with Brazil and India leading growth, while U.S. domestic traffic declined amid ongoing economic and political uncertainty.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh warned that sustained demand growth is increasingly constrained by aircraft delivery delays and supply chain challenges. He urged manufacturers to accelerate production in 2026, noting that the global aircraft order backlog surpassed 17,000 units in 2025, a level he said must be reduced to prevent capacity shortages from limiting future market growth.
This post was published on 8 January 2026 15:02
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