February global air passenger demand grew by 6.1% — IATA

The total global air passenger demand for the month of February was up 6.1 percent this year compared to February 2025, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The total demand is measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK).
Total capacity, which is measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 5.6 percent year-on-year. 

The load factor was 81.4 percent (+0.3 ppt compared to February 2025), the highest February figure on record.

International passenger demand rose 5.9 percent compared to February 2025. Capacity was up 5.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.5 percent (+0.5 ppt compared to February 2025).

Domestic passenger demand increased 6.3 percent compared to February 2025. Capacity increased 6.2 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 82.8 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to February 2025).

“With an RPK expansion of 6.1%, February was a strong month, showing that the fundamentals for demand growth were in place for a positive year," said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.  

"However, without knowing the length and intensity of the war in the Middle East, it is impossible to quantify the full impact that it will have on airline prospects. But some things are already clear. Fuel costs have risen sharply. 

"With tight capacity and thin margins, air fares are already rising."

Walsh added that capacity deployment is also adjusting, particularly for traffic to, from, or through the Middle East, or in areas where fuel supply is an issue. 

"Capacity growth scheduled for March, for example, has eased to 3.3 percent from earlier predictions of more than 5 percent."