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News / Passenger demand up 21.5% in February
Airlines accelerate investments in decarbonization amidst geopolitical and economic uncertainties
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), was up 21.5% compared to February 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 18.7% year-on-year. The February load factor was 80.6% (+1.9ppt compared to February 2023).
International demand rose 26.3% compared to February 2023; capacity was up 25.5% year-on-year and the load factor improved to 79.3% (+0.5ppt on February 2023).
Domestic demand rose 15.0% compared to February 2023; capacity was up 9.4% year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6% (+4.0ppt compared to February 2023).
Note that February 2024 was a leap year with one extra day compared to February 2023. This slightly exaggerates growth in both demand and capacity to the positive.
Air passenger market in detail
| FEBRUARY 2024 (% YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(LEVEL)3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 100% | 21.5% | 18.7% | 1.9% | 80.6% |
| Africa | 2.1% | 22.5% | 24.3% | -1.1% | 74.4% |
| Asia Pacific | 31.7% | 37.8% | 30.1% | 4.7% | 84.4% |
| Europe | 27.1% | 14.8% | 14.6% | 0.2% | 76.1% |
| Latin America | 5.5% | 13.0% | 10.8% | 1.6% | 82.7% |
| Middle East | 9.4% | 19.7% | 18.8% | 0.6% | 80.8% |
| North America | 24.2% | 8.9% | 8.8% | 0.0% | 79.5% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2023 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
International passenger markets
All regions showed double digit growth for international passenger markets in February 2024 compared to February 2023. For the first time, demand for international services exceeded pre-pandemic levels (+0.9% compared to February 2023). This, however, is skewed by February 2024 being a leap-year with an extra day compared to February 2023.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 53.2% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 52.1% year-on-year and the load factor rose to 84.9% (+0.6ppt compared to February 2023), the highest among all regions.
European carriers’ saw a 15.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 16.0% year-on-year, and the load factor was 74.7% (flat compared to February 2023).
Middle Eastern airlines saw a 19.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 19.1% year-on-year and the load factor rose to 80.8% (+0.4ppt compared to February 2023).
North American carriers saw a 16.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 17.6% year-on-year, and the load factor fell to 77.7% (-1.1ppt compared to February 2023).
Latin American airlines’ saw a 21.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 18.6% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 84.2% (+1.7ppt compared to February 2023).
African airlines’ saw a 20.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 22.1% year-on-year. The load factor fell to 74.0% (-0.8ppt compared to February 2023).
Domestic passenger markets
Domestic demand growth was led by China (+35.1% compared to February 2023) which benefitted from unrestricted Lunar New Year travel.
| FEBRUARY 2024 (% YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(LEVEL)3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 39.9% | 15.0% | 9.4% | 4.0% | 82.6% |
| Domestic Australia | 0.8% | 14.9% | 9.1% | 3.7% | 73.4% |
| Domestic Brazil | 1.2% | 3.2% | 5.5% | -1.7% | 77.5% |
| Domestic China P.R. | 11.2% | 35.1% | 20.5% | 9.2% | 84.9% |
| Domestic India | 1.8% | 5.3% | 4.8% | 0.5% | 88.8% |
| Domestic Japan | 1.1% | 9.1% | 0.9% | 5.9% | 79.0% |
| Domestic US | 15.4% | 5.7% | 4.8% | 0.7% | 80.2% |
1) % of industry RPKs in 2023 2) year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
