Air travel demand in the US decreased for the second month in a row in September, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The drop “accelerated” to 1.7% year over year after dipping 0.2% in August. September US capacity, as measured in available seat kilometers, increased just 0.1% compared with a year prior. The US load factor also dropped 1.5 percentage points to 80.2% and was the lowest of the major domestic markets. 

Total global demand, however, increased 3.6% year over year, with capacity up 3.7% for the period. The September load factor globally declined 0.1 percentage points to 83.4%. International demand again led the increase and was up 5.1% year over year, while capacity increased 5.2%. Domestic demand remained soft and increased 0.9% year over year, with capacity up 1.1% compared with September 2024. 

Willie Walsh, director general, said, “Solid international demand drove 90% of September’s 3.6 %overall growth.” Importantly, he said, capacity expansion slightly nudged ahead of demand growth at 3.7%. With November flight schedules indicating a 3% expansion over the previous year, said Walsh, “airlines are gearing up for continued growth into the year-end holiday season.”

North America was the only region to report a September total air demand decline, at 0.1% year over year. The continent’s total capacity growth was also the lowest among the regions at 1.8%, and load factor fell 1.5 percentage points to 81.2%, the lowest of the sectors.