IATA data for global passenger demand for May shows that total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, was up 10.7% compared with May 2023.

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, was up 8.5% year-on-year. The May load factor was 83.4% (a 1.7 percentage point increase compared with May 2023), a record high for May.

International demand rose 14.6% compared with May last year and capacity was up 14.1% year-on-year while the load factor improved to 82.8% (an increase of 0.3 percentage points on May 2023).

Domestic demand rose 4.7% compared with May 2023, capacity was up 0.1% year-on-year and the load factor was 84.5% (up 3.8 percentage points).

African airlinessaw a 14.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 8.2% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 72.3% (up 3.7 percentage points). This was the fastest increase in load factor among all regions, although Africa still has the lowest load factor overall.

“Strong demand for travel continues with airlines posting a 10.7% year-on-year increase in travel for May. Airlines filled 83.4% of their seats, a record for the month. With May ticket sales for early peak-season travel up nearly 6%, the growth trend shows no signs of abating. Airlines are doing everything they can to ensure smooth journeys for all travellers over the peak northern summer period,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

He added however that expectations of air navigation service providers (ANSPs) are already being tested.

“With 5.2 million minutes of air traffic control delays racked up in Europe even before the peak season begins, it is clear that Europe’s  ANSPs have unresolved challenges. And the 32 000 flight delays over the Memorial Day weekend in May show that challenges persist in the US too. Airlines are accountable to their customers and ANSPs must be as well. ANSP performance matters to their airline, customers and millions of travellers. We all need them to do their job efficiently,” Walsh concluded.