Global air travel demand remained robust through December and across the full year 2025, with traffic growth broadly returning to long-term historical trends following the post-pandemic rebound, according to new data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total passenger demand in December, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), increased 5.6 per cent year-on-year, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), rose by 5.9 per cent. The global passenger load factor dipped slightly by 0.2 percentage points to 83.7 per cent.
For the full year, global air traffic grew 5.3 per cent compared with 2024, marginally outpacing capacity growth of 5.2 per cent. This pushed the full-year load factor to 83.6 per cent, the highest annual level on record, according to IATA.
International markets continued to outperform domestic travel throughout both the month and the year. December international demand rose 7.7 per cent year-on-year, with capacity up 7.9 per cent and load factor easing by 0.1 percentage points to 83.9 per cent.
Across 2025 as a whole, international demand increased 7.1 per cent, while capacity rose 6.8 per cent. The international load factor improved by 0.2 percentage points to 83.5 per cent.
Domestic markets saw more modest growth. December domestic demand increased 2.2 per cent year-on-year, with capacity up 2.7 per cent, pushing load factor down 0.4 percentage points to 83.5 per cent. Full-year domestic demand rose 2.4 per cent against a 2.5 per cent increase in capacity, with the annual load factor slipping marginally to 83.7 per cent.
Africa recorded the strongest regional performance, leading growth rates in both December and across the full year. December demand in Africa rose 12.8 per cent year-on-year, with capacity up 14.1 per cent. For the full year, African traffic increased 9.4 per cent, while capacity grew 8.3 per cent.
By contrast, North America was the only region to record a decline in total December demand, down 0.1 per cent year-on-year, despite a two per cent increase in capacity. North America also posted the slowest growth in 2025 overall, with traffic up just 0.4 per cent and capacity rising two per cent compared with 2024.
In international markets, the Asia-Pacific region led full-year growth, with traffic up 10.9 per cent year-on-year and capacity rising 10.2 per cent, matching growth rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. North America again lagged, with international demand growth of 2.1 per cent and capacity growth of 2.4 per cent.
Among domestic markets in December, Brazil recorded the strongest performance, with demand up 11 per cent and capacity up 9.1 per cent year-on-year. Brazil also led full-year domestic growth, with demand increasing 11.1 per cent and capacity up 9.3 per cent.
The United States and India were notable outliers in December, both reporting demand declines of two per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively. In India, operational challenges faced by low-cost carrier IndiGo led to government-mandated capacity reductions during the month.
For the full year, the US was the only domestic market to report a decline in demand, down 0.6 per cent year-on-year. Japan recorded the slowest capacity growth at 0.4 per cent, followed by the US at 1.7 per cent.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said the 2025 results mark a return to more normal growth patterns after the sharp rebound seen following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Demand growth is now aligning with historical trends,” Walsh said. “But the strong and continuous increase in demand puts two challenges into sharp focus: decarbonisation, which is essential for long-term growth, and supply chain constraints, which were the biggest headache for airlines in 2025.”
With load factors at record highs and international demand continuing to lead growth, the data underscores both the resilience of global air travel and the operational pressures airlines face as they seek to balance capacity, sustainability and fleet availability.