Global air travel demand grew by 6.6% in October, according to IATA

On November 28, 2025, IATA reported that global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger-kilometers (RPK), increased by 6.6% in October compared to the same month in 2024, while available seat-kilometers (ASK) expanded by 5.8%. The global average load factor reached 84.6%, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.7 percentage points.

The international segment showed particularly strong growth: demand rose 8.5%, capacity increased 7.1%, and the occupancy rate remained at 84.6%, a rise of 1.1 percentage points. Meanwhile, the global domestic market saw a 3.4% increase in demand, with capacity up 3.6% and an occupancy rate of 84.6%, just 0.1 percentage points lower than the previous year.

According to the IATA Director General, this performance is a sign of strength in the airline sector within a global context marked by economic uncertainties. Furthermore, scheduled capacity is expected to increase between November and December, driven by strong demand for leisure and business travel.

For the Latin America and Caribbean region, international demand grew 7.2% year-on-year in October, with capacity expanding by 8.2%. The load factor stood at 84.6%, 0.8 percentage points lower than the previous year.

This increase in global air travel demand coincides with expectations of strong tourist activity towards the end of the year, which could create opportunities for the tourism industry, especially in source and destination markets in Latin America.

Source: IATA.