Total air travel demand was up 2.6% in February compared with the same month last year, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, was up 2% year on year. The February load factor was 81.1% (up 0.4 percentage points compared with February 2024).
Among other results:
- International demand rose 5.6% compared with February 2024. Capacity was up 4.5% year on year, and the load factor was 80.2% (up 0.9 percentage points compared with February 2024).
- Domestic demand fell 1.9% compared with February 2024. Capacity was down 1.7% year on year. The load factor was 82.6% (down 0.2 percentage points compared with February 2024).
North American carriers saw a year-on-year fall in demand of 1.5%. Capacity decreased 3.2% year on year, and the load factor was 78.9% (up 1.3 percentage points compared with February 2024).
Willie Walsh, director general, said that while traffic growth slowed in February, much of this can be explained by factors including the leap year; and Lunar New Year falling in January compared with February last year. February traffic, he said, hit an all-time high, and the number of scheduled flights is set to continue increasing in March and April. “But we need to keep a close eye on developments in North America,” he said, “which saw declines in both domestic and international traffic.”
The recent shutdown of Heathrow, said Walsh, “reminded us once again that the current passenger rights regime in place in Europe and the UK is not fit for purpose.” The annual costs of compensation, care and assistance, he said, run into the billions. Thankfully, said Walsh, “the Polish presidency of the European Union has recognized that this is a drag on European competitiveness and is progressing on much-needed and long-anticipated reforms.”
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