Iata has released data for January's global passenger demand, indicating a strong start for the year.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 16.6%; total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 14.1%; and the load factor was 79.9% (+1.7 percentage points).
International demand rose 20.8%; capacity was up 20.9% and the load factor remained at 79.7%.
Domestic demand rose 10.4%; capacity was up 4.6% and the load factor was 80.2% (+4.2 percentage points).
African airlines saw an 18.5% traffic increase in January versus a year ago. January capacity was up 19.2% causing load factor to decline 0.4 percentage points to 73.3%, the lowest among the regions.
“2024 is off to a strong start despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. As governments look to build prosperity in their economies in the busiest election year ever, it is critical that they see aviation as a catalyst for growth. Increased taxes and onerous regulation are a counterweight to prosperity.
“We will be looking to governments for policies that help aviation to reduce costs, improve efficiency and make progress towards nett zero CO₂ emissions by 2050,” said Willie Walsh, Iata Director General.
