Air passenger demand grew 5.7% in November 2025

Global demand for air passenger transport registered a year-on-year growth of 5.7% in November 2025, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), according to data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). During the same period, global capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASKs), increased by 5.4%, resulting in an average load factor of 83.7%, the highest ever recorded for the month of November.

Performance was led by the international segment, where demand grew 7.7% compared to November 2024, while capacity expanded by 7.1%. The international load factor reached 84.0%, also marking a record for this month. In the domestic market, growth was more moderate, with a year-on-year increase of 2.7%, in line with capacity expansion, keeping the load factor stable at 83.2%.

By region, Africa stood out as the fastest-growing market overall, with a 12.6% increase in demand, followed by Asia-Pacific at 7.8% and Europe at 6.1%. The Middle East showed solid growth, with a 9.5% increase. In Latin America and the Caribbean, demand rose by 3.9%, in line with capacity, while North America saw virtually no change, with a marginal increase of 0.1% and a decline in the load factor.

In international markets, Asia-Pacific airlines led growth with a 9.3% increase in demand, followed by Africa at 11.2% and the Middle East at 9.6%. Europe advanced 6.8%, while Latin America grew 4.4% and North America 4.0%, although the latter region has now seen ten consecutive months of year-on-year declines in its load factor.

In the domestic segment, Brazil and India emerged as the most dynamic markets, with growth rates of 8.3% and 7.7%, respectively. China and Japan also showed progress, while the United States was the only major domestic market to register a contraction in demand, attributed to temporary factors such as the temporary disruption of government activities.

IATA highlighted that November's strong performance confirms sustained demand for air travel, in a context where airlines continue to operate with capacity constraints stemming from persistent challenges in the aerospace industry's supply chain. In this scenario, reducing the high volume of outstanding aircraft orders, which exceeds 17,000 units, is one of the sector's main challenges heading into 2026.

Source: IATA (International Air Transport Association)