Global Air Travel Demand Rises 5.7% in November as African Airlines Lead Growth | Global air passenger demand continued to expand in November 2025, supported by resilient travel appetite and sustained capacity discipline, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), rose 5.7% year-on-year, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased 5.4% over the same period. As a result, the global load factor reached 83.7%, up 0.3 percentage points from November 2024 and marking a record high for the month.
International travel remained the primary growth driver. International passenger demand increased 7.7% compared with November last year, with capacity up 7.1%. The international load factor improved to 84.0%, a 0.4 percentage point gain year-on-year. Domestic markets posted more modest growth, with demand rising 2.7%, matching the increase in capacity. Domestic load factors remained unchanged at 83.2%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the data underscores continued pressure on airline capacity as demand outpaces supply. “November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year-on-year growth of 5.7%. Load factors reached a new record as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain,” Walsh said.
He added that manufacturers must scale up production to address aircraft shortages. “The backlog of more than 17,000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026,” Walsh said.
African airlines recorded the strongest regional performance in November. Passenger demand surged 11.2% year-on-year, outpacing capacity growth of 8.5%. The region’s load factor climbed to 74.3%, an improvement of 1.8 percentage points compared with November 2024.
The strong showing by African carriers highlights accelerating recovery and expansion across the continent, even as global supply chain constraints continue to limit fleet availability and capacity growth worldwide.
Global Air Travel Demand Rises 5.7% in November as African Airlines Lead Growth | AviationGhana
