3.6% Air Passenger Growth in September

(Posted 31st October 2025)

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2025 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.6% compared to September 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 3.7% year-on-year. The September load factor was 83.4% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

• International demand rose 5.1% compared to September 2024. Capacity was up 5.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.6% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

• Domestic demand increased 0.9% compared to September 2024. Capacity was up 1.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.0% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

“Solid international demand drove 90% of September’s 3.6% overall growth. Importantly, the capacity expansion slightly nudged ahead of demand growth at 3.7%. Load factors, nonetheless, remained very strong at 83.4%. With November flight schedules indicating a 3% expansion on the previous year, airlines are gearing up for continued growth into the year-end holiday season. This is despite the severe constraints of unresolved supply chain issues,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Air passenger market in detail – September 2025

September 2025 (% year-on-year)	World share¹	RPK	ASK	PLF (%-pt)	PLF (level)
Total Market	100%	3.6%	3.7%	-0.1%	83.4%
Africa	2.2%	6.1%	6.9%	-0.6%	74.9%
Asia Pacific	33.5%	5.3%	4.0%	1.1%	83.6%
Europe	26.7%	2.9%	3.3%	-0.3%	86.2%
Latin America and Caribbean	5.3%	5.4%	5.4%	0.0%	83.6%
Middle East	9.4%	6.2%	6.3%	-0.1%	81.8%
North America	22.9%	-0.1%	1.8%	-1.5%	81.2%

¹% of industry RPKs in 2024

Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets

International RPK growth reached 5.1% in September year-on-year, and growth was seen in all regions. The only region to show a significant load factor improvement was Asia-Pacific.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 7.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.3% (+1.0 ppt compared to September 2024). Intra-Asia travel was the strongest driver of growth with a 9.4% increase, led primarily by traffic from China and Japan.

European carriers had a 4.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6% (-0.3 ppt compared to September 2024).

North American carriers saw a 2.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.9% (-1.5 ppt compared to September 2024). The North America-Asia corridor showed weak growth of just 0.9%. By contrast, North America-South America traffic bounced back from its August decline, with growth of 1.1%.

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 6.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.9% (unchanged compared to September 2024).

Latin American airlines saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 6.8% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.3% (-1.2 ppt compared to September 2024).

African airlines saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.7% (+0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

Domestic Passe

nger Markets

Domestic RPK rose 0.9% over September 2024 and load factor fell by 0.1 ppt to 83.0% on the back of a 1.1% capacity expansion. Brazil continues to lead the way with a double-digit expansion. By contrast, the decline in US domestic travel accelerated to -1.7% and its load factor is the weakest of the major domestic markets.

September 2025 (% year-on-year)	World share¹	RPK	ASK	PLF (%-pt)	PLF (level)
Domestic	38.2%	0.9%	1.1%	-0.1%	83.0%
Dom. Australia	0.8%	1.3%	5.3%	-3.2%	81.7%
Dom. Brazil	1.1%	12.1%	10.0%	1.6%	84.4%
Dom. China P.R.	11.3%	5.0%	3.2%	1.4%	84.2%
Dom. India	1.7%	-0.7%	1.5%	-1.9%	81.1%
Dom. Japan	1.0%	3.3%	-0.8%	3.4%	84.9%
Dom. US	14.4%	-1.7%	0.1%	-1.5%	80.2%