Flying High: Global Air Passenger Demand Hits Record in 2024

Flights are full and demand for air travel remains at a record high, as demonstrated by the latest statistics from the International Air Travel Association (IATA) for the full-year and December of 2024.

 “2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel. With 10.4% demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5% of all seats on offer were filled — a new record high, partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth. Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more,” Walsh added.

Some highlights2024 full-year and December 2024 passenger market performance by IATA members:

• Total full-year traffic in 2024 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 10.4% compared to 2023. This was 3.8% above pre-pandemic (2019) levels. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 8.7% in 2024. The overall load factor reached 83.5%, a record for full-year traffic.

• International full-year traffic in 2024 increased 13.6% compared to 2023, and capacity rose 12.8%. 

• Domestic full-year traffic for 2024 rose 5.7% compared to the prior year, while capacity expanded by 2.5%. 

• December 2024 was a strong finish to the year with overall demand rising 8.6% year-on-year, and capacity grew by 5.6%. International demand rose by 10.6% and domestic demand by 5.5%. The December load factor reached 84%, a record for the month. 

“Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8.0% that is more aligned with historical averages,” Walsh said. 

The IATA leader said the airlines’ firm commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is being challenged by a lack of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). While airlines invested record amounts in purchases of SAF in 2024, it still represented less than 0.5% of fuel needs.  “SAF is in short supply and costs must come down. Governments could fortify their national energy security and unblock this problem by prioritizing renewable fuel production from which SAF is derived,” Walsh said