Global air travel demand rises 4% in July as international markets lead growth, according to IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 4% year-on-year rise in global passenger demand for July 2025, with capacity up 4.4% and load factor slightly down at 85.5%. International travel was the main driver, growing 5.3%, while domestic markets expanded more modestly at 1.9%.

Regional highlights

• Asia-Pacific led growth at +8.7%, supported by strong international demand.
• Latin America posted +9.3% growth, with robust intra-regional traffic.
• Middle East demand rebounded to +5.3% after June’s disruption from conflict.
• Europe (+4.0%) and North America (+2.4%) showed steady international gains, though both saw load factors decline.
• Africa grew +2.8%, with strong traffic on Africa–Asia routes.

Domestic markets

Brazil remained the strongest performer (+9.4% RPK), while China (+3.8%) and Japan (+2.9%) also contributed to growth. Japan achieved a record July load factor of 81.4%, the highest since 2000.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that July marked a strong peak season, with international demand strengthening from June and flight volumes up 2% year-on-year for September, positioning airlines for continued momentum.