Total air travel demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) was up 4% in July, compared with the same month in 2024, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 4.4% year on year. The July load factor was 85.5% (down 0.4 percentage points compared with July 2024).

International demand rose 5.3% compared with July 2024. Capacity was up 5.8% year on year, and the load factor was 85.6% (down 0.4 percentage points compared with July 2024). Domestic demand increased 1.9% compared with July 2024. Capacity was up 2.4% year on year. The load factor was 85.2% (down 0.4 percentage points compared with July 2024).

North American carriers saw a 2.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 3.6% year on year, and the load factor was 88.4% (down 1 percentage point compared with July 2024). International traffic routes for the Americas were all positive except for traffic between North America and South America, which declined 0.8%.

Willie Walsh, director general, said it has been a good northern summer season for airlines, noting, “Momentum has grown over the peak season.” That trend, he said, appears across all regions and is particularly evident for international travel, which strengthened from 3.9% growth in June to 5.3% in July. Moreover, said Walsh, with flight volumes showing a 2% year-on-year increase for September after five months of decelerating growth, “airlines are positioned to take advantage of this market momentum into the coming months.”