The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for May 2024 global passenger demand, revealing a 10.7 percent increase in total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), compared to May 2023.
Meanwhile, total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 8.5 percent year-on-year. The May load factor was 83.4 percent (+1.7 percentage point compared to May 2023), a record high for May.
International demand rose 14.6 percent compared to May 2023. Capacity was up 14.1 percent year-on-year and the load factor improved to 82.8 percent (+0.3 percentage points on May 2023).
Domestic demand rose 4.7 percent compared to May 2023, while capacity was up 0.1 percent year-on-year, while the load factor was 84.5 percent (+3.8 percentage points compared to May 2023).
In a region-wise breakdown, Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9 percent year-on-year and the load factor increased 0.5 percentage points to 80.7 percent compared to May 2023.
Asian routes to the Middle East were particularly strong, now standing some 32 percent higher than in 2019. Another notable development is the Europe-Middle East route, which saw an April-May RPK increase for two years in a row, reversing the previous historic pattern of a decline between these months.
Asia-Pacific airlines lead the way
Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific airlines continued to lead the way, with a 27 percent year-on-year increase in demand.
Capacity increased 26 percent year-on-year and the load factor rose to 81.6 percent (+0.6 percentage points compared to May 2023). This performance maintains Asian carriers as the largest contributor to industry-wide growth in May, accounting for 42 percent of the year-on-year increase.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, said: “Strong demand for travel continues with airlines posting a 10.7 percent YoY increase in travel for May. Airlines filled 83.4 percent of their seats, a record for the month. With May ticket sales for early peak-season travel up nearly 6 percent, 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.”
“But our 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; ANSPs must be as well. ANSP performance matters to their airline customers and to millions of travellers. We all need them to do their job efficiently,” he added.
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