North America Leads Way as Global Passenger Demand Up 6.6% in October

Global airlines filled just under 85% of their seats in October, as total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 6.6% compared to October 2024. Capacity was up 5.8% year-over-year.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for the month, noting that international demand rose 8.5% compared to October 2024. Capacity was up 7.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.6% (+1.1 ppt compared to October 2024).

Domestic demand increased 3.4%, with capacity up 3.6% year-on-year. 

After flat performance in recent months, the North American market delivered a successful month.

“October was a strong month for air travel with demand up 6.6% on the previous year. Of particular note is the 4.5% international traffic growth for carriers based in North America which comes after several months of basically flat performance,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“The trends for the rest of the year look encouraging,” Walsh added. “Scheduled seat capacity in November is set to expand 3.6% and in December by 4.7%. This points to strong demand for holiday travel and businesses looking to complete deals by the end of the year. Considering the uncertainty in the economic outlook for 2026, the resilience of demand for air travel, with the jobs and growth it brings, is a bright spot that governments should nurture with care.”