Translations: La demanda de pasajeros aéreos comienza 2026 con un incremento del 3,8% (pdf)
L’année 2026 débute avec une croissance de 3,8 % du trafic de passagers (pdf)
2026 começa com crescimento de 3,8% na demanda de passageiros aéreos (pdf)
Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2026 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
- Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.8% compared to January 2025. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 3.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.0% (+0.2 ppt compared to January 2025), a record high for January.
- International demand rose 5.9% compared to January 2025. Capacity was up 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to January 2025).
- Domestic demand increased 0.1% compared to January 2025. Capacity was down -0.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 81.2% (+0.4 ppt compared to January 2025).
January demand was skewed by a shift in the Lunar New Year from January in 2025 to February in 2026. Lunar New Year typically drives a spike in demand, as families reconnect to celebrate the holiday. The year-on-year comparison has the effect of making January 2026 demand appear slightly weaker.
“The timing of the Lunar New Year partly explains the slightly slower 3.8% expansion in January, but the fundamentals are in place for demand to continue strong growth in 2026. Schedule data, for example, indicate a 5.2% increase in global seat capacity by March, which would be the fastest expansion since April 2024. Events over the weekend have, however, introduced some uncertainty into the evolution of traffic and fuel costs. We all hope for an early peaceful resolution to the current hostilities. In the meantime, it is critical that states respect their obligation to keep civilians, and civil aviation free from harm,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“Average fares are expected to fall in real terms over the course of 2026, continuing a long-established trend of ever more affordable air travel. This is despite persistent cost pressures from rising infrastructure charges, onerous regulatory burdens, and the mounting cost of the energy transition. In the face of these cost and regulatory pressures, it is notable that 2025 saw the slowest rate of new airline start-ups since 1999. Governments who value competition should consider this a canary in the coal mine. To protect and enhance the consumer benefits of connectivity, these cost and regulatory issues must be addressed,” said Walsh.
Air Passenger Market in Detail
| January 2026 (% year-on-year) | World Share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(Level)3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 100% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 0.2 | 82.0% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 17.9% | 16.3% | 1.0 | 77.0% |
| Asia Pacific | 34.4% | 1.4% | 1.8% | -0.3 | 83.9% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 6.0% | 5.1% | 0.7 | 80.2% |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 5.4% | 8.3% | 6.0% | 1.8 | 85.3% |
| Middle East | 9.5% | 7.4% | 8.0% | -0.5 | 83.3% |
| North America | 21.8% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.5 | 80.2% |
1) % of industry RPK in 2025 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
Regional Breakdown - International Passenger Markets
International RPK growth reached 5.9% in January year-on-year. All regions expanded, but year-on-year growth decelerated, particularly in Asia Pacific, reflecting the timing of Lunar New Year falling in February. The international load factor, at 82.5%, was a record high for the month.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 4.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.9% (-0.7 ppt compared to January 2025).
European carriers had a 6.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.4% (+0.5 ppt compared to January 2025).
North American carriers saw a 3.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.3% (+0.6 ppt compared to January 2025).
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 7.2% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.2% (-0.4 ppt compared to January 2025).
Latin American airlines saw a 11.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 8.9% year-on-year. The load factor was 86.5% (+2.0 ppt compared to January 2025).
African airlines saw an 11.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 10.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 77.4% (+1.1 ppt compared to January 2025).
Domestic Passenger Markets
Domestic RPK rose just 0.1% over January 2025, mostly affected by the shift of Lunar New Year. The load factor rose slightly by 0.4 ppt to a record January high of 81.2%, as capacity fell -0.4%. China, Australia, and the United States all posted traffic declines, but Brazil was once again a strong performer, rising 10.9% year-on-year.
| January 2026 (% year-on-year) | World Share1 | RPK | ASK | PLF(%-PT)2 | PLF(LEVEL)3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 37.2% | 0.1% | -0.4% | 0.4% | 81.2% |
| Domestic Australia | 0.8% | -1.6% | 3.4% | -3.8% | 75.4% |
| Domestic Brazil | 1.2% | 10.9% | 8.3% | 2.0% | 84.9% |
| Domestic China P.R. | 11.3% | -3.8% | -3.8% | -0.1% | 83.1% |
| Domestic India | 1.7% | 3.4% | 4.5% | -0.9% | 87.2% |
| Domestic Japan | 1.0% | 0.7% | -2.0% | 2.0% | 75.9% |
| Domestic United States | 13.6% | -0.7% | -1.2% | 0.4% | 78.7% |
1) % of industry RPK in 2025 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level
> View the January 2026 Air Passenger Market Analysis (pdf)
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org
Notes for Editors:
- IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents over 360 airlines accounting for some 85% of global air traffic.
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- All figures are provisional and represent total reporting at time of publication plus estimates for missing data. Historic figures are subject to revision.
- Domestic RPKs accounted for about 37.2% of the total market in 2025. The six domestic markets in this report account for 29.6% of global RPKs.
- Explanation of measurement terms:
- RPK: Revenue Passenger Kilometers measures actual passenger traffic
- ASK: Available Seat Kilometers measures available passenger capacity
- PLF: Passenger Load Factor is % of ASKs used
- IATA statistics cover international and domestic scheduled air traffic for IATA member and non-member airlines.
