Global Air Passenger Demand Up 0.2Pc, Cargo Traffic Rises 3.9Pc

Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), rose 0.2 percent year over year in July 2026. Excluding the Middle East, the increase was 1.2 percent. Airlines added 0.3 percent capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), while the global passenger load factor stood at 85.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier.

International passenger demand declined 0.1 percent, although it grew 1.5 percent when Middle Eastern carriers were excluded. Domestic demand performed better, increasing 0.6 percent year over year, with capacity up 0.2 percent and load factor reaching 85.3 percent.

Regional performance varied considerably. European airlines recorded 3.1 percent growth in international demand, while traffic between Europe and Asia jumped 12.1 percent, the strongest growth among major international corridors.

Latin American carriers posted a 7.1 percent increase, followed by African airlines at 6.4 percent. In contrast, Asia-Pacific demand fell 0.7 percent, North America declined 2.3 percent, and Middle Eastern carriers recorded a 9.5 percent drop.

IATA said traffic through Gulf hubs is continuing to recover, while airlines remain confident about demand for the remainder of the year.

Meanwhile, global air cargo demand grew 3.9 percent year over year in July, with international cargo traffic increasing 4.7 percent. Cargo capacity expanded 1.7 percent overall and 1.8 percent for international operations.

Asia-Pacific airlines recorded 4.1 percent cargo growth, while North American carriers led the regional performance with a 4.8 percent increase. Europe followed with 4.4 percent growth, while Latin America and the Caribbean rose 4.1 percent.

Middle Eastern cargo demand increased 1.7 percent, and Africa recorded the weakest growth at 1.1 percent.

IATA said global trade expanded 7.5 percent year over year in July, supporting the cargo market. However, jet fuel prices rose 12.2 percent during the month and were 56.9 percent higher than a year earlier, posing a challenge for airlines.

Among major trade lanes, Asia-North America recorded the strongest cargo growth, followed by Europe-Asia and Europe-North America. Gulf-linked routes remained affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

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