Translations:
- 2017 marquée par un fort trafic de passagers et des coefficients d’occupation record (pdf)
- 2017 destaca por fuerte demanda de pasajeros. Cifra récord para el factor de ocupación (pdf)
- Ano de 2017 com forte demanda de passageiros e recorde no fator de carga (pdf)
- 国际航协：2017年全球航空客运需求同比增长7.6% (pdf)
-في ظل ارتفاع الطلب بنسبة 7.6% مقارنة بالعام الماضيعام 2017 يشهد تسجيل طلب قوي على حركة المسافرين على مستوى العالم (pdf)
Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for 2017 showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) for the year ended 31 December rose 7.6% compared to 2016. This was well above the 10-year average annual growth rate of 5.5%. While the rate of demand growth slowed to 6.2% in December 2017, compared to December 2016, this largely was owing to less favorable comparisons to the even stronger growth trend seen in the year-ago period. Full year 2017 capacity rose 6.3%, and load factor climbed 0.9 percentage point to a record calendar-year high of 81.4%.
"2017 got off to a very strong start and largely stayed that way throughout the year, sustained by a broad-based pick-up in economic conditions. While the underlying economic outlook remains supportive in 2018, rising cost inputs, most notably fuel, suggest we are unlikely to see the same degree of demand stimulation from lower fares that occurred in the first part of 2017," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO.
| December 2017 (% YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE (1) | RPK | ASK | PLF- %-PT (2) | PLF- LEVEL(3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 100.0% | 6.2% | 5.8% | 0.3% | 80.7% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 0.6% | 72.1% |
| Asia Pacific | 33.7% | 9.1% | 8.3% | 0.6% | 81.1% |
| Europe | 26.5% | 6.1% | 4.4% | 1.3% | 81.5% |
| Latin America | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.0% | 0.3% | 81.5% |
| Middle East | 9.5% | 3.4% | 5.7% | -1.7% | 75.5% |
| North America | 23.0% | 4.0% | 4.2% | -0.2% | 82.7% |
(1) % of industry RPKs in 2016 (2) Year-on-year change in load factor (3) Load factor level
International Passenger Markets
2017 international passenger traffic soared 7.9% compared to 2016. Capacity rose 6.4% and load factor climbed 1.1 percentage points to 80.6%. All regions recorded year-over-year increases in demand, led by the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions.
- Asia-Pacific carriers posted annual demand growth of 9.4%, compared to 2016, driven by robust regional economic expansion and an increase in route options for travelers. This was the first time since 1994 that Asia-Pacific led all the regions in annual growth rate. Capacity rose 7.9%, and load factor climbed 1.1 percentage points to 79.6%.
- European carriers' international traffic climbed 8.2% in 2017 compared to the previous year, underpinned by buoyant economic conditions in the region. Capacity rose 6.1% and load factor surged 1.6 percentage points to 84.4%, which was the highest for any region.
- Middle East carriers' traffic increased 6.6% last year. The region was the only one to see a slowdown in annual growth compared to 2016, and the region's share of global traffic (9.5%) fell for the first time in 20 years. The market segment to/from North America was hit the hardest owing to factors including the temporary ban on large portable electronic devices in the aircraft cabin as well as the proposed US travel bans affecting some countries in the region. Capacity climbed 6.4% and load factor rose 0.1 percentage point to 74.7%.
- North American airlines had their fastest demand growth since 2011, with full year traffic rising 4.8% compared to 2016. Capacity climbed 4.5%, and load factor edged up 0.3 percentage point to 81.7%. The comparatively robust economic backdrop supported outbound passenger demand. This was somewhat offset by a slowdown in inbound travel partly attributable to the new immigration and security restrictions put in place for travel to the US, as well as the extreme weather events that hit the US later in the year.
- Latin American airlines' traffic climbed 9.3% in 2017, the fastest rate since 2011. However, the upward trend weakened towards the end of the year, partly owing to disruption caused by the severe 2017 hurricane season that also hurt travel to the US. Capacity rose 8.0% and load factor increased 1.0 percentage point to 82.1%, second highest among the regions.
- African airlines saw 2017 traffic rise 7.5% compared to 2016. Capacity rose at less than half the rate of demand (3.6%), and load factor jumped 2.5 percentage points to 70.3%. While indicators in South Africa are consistent with falling economic output, Nigeria has returned to growth, helped by the recent rise in oil prices.
Domestic Passenger Markets
Domestic air travel climbed 7.0% last year. All markets showed annual growth led by India, China, and Russia, albeit with wide variation. Capacity increased 6.2% and load factor was 83.0%, up 0.7 percentage point compared to 2016.
| DEC 2017 (% YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE 1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-PT)2 | PLF (LEVEL)3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 36.2% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 0.6% | 82.0% |
| Dom. Australia (4) | 0.9% | 2.8% | -0.2% | 2.3% | 81.0% |
| Dom. Brazil (4) | 1.2% | 5.4% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 83.0% |
| Dom. China P.R. (4) | 9.1% | 13.5% | 11.8% | 1.3% | 82.5% |
| Dom. India (4) | 1.4% | 17.4% | 16.4% | 0.7% | 89.3% |
| Dom. Japan (4) | 1.1% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 0.2% | 67.6% |
| Dom. Russian Fed (4) | 1.4% | 8.6% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 78.4% |
| Dom. USA (4) | 14.5% | 3.9% | 4.1% | -0.2% | 83.5% |
(1) % of industry RPKs in 2016
(2) Year-on-year change in load factor
(3) Load factor level
(4) The seven domestic passenger markets for w hich broken-dow n data are available account for 30% of global total RPKs and approximately 82% of total domestic RPKs
- Japan posted its fastest full year of growth (up 5.8%) since 2013, driven in part by the country's stronger economic backdrop.
- Brazil's domestic traffic returned to growth last year with a 3.5% demand increase, after recording an annual decline of 5.5% in 2016.
The Bottom Line:
"Last year, more than 4 billion passengers used aviation to reunite with friends and loved ones, to explore new worlds, to do business, and to take advantage of opportunities to improve themselves. The connectivity provided by aviation enables goods to get to markets, and aid to be delivered to those in need. Aviation truly is the business of freedom, liberating us from the restraints of geography to lead better lives. Aviation can do even more in 2018, supported by governments that recognize and support our activities with smarter regulation, fairer taxation, cost efficient infrastructure and borders that are open to people and trade," said de Juniac.
View December and full year passenger traffic results (pdf)
View our passenger volume infographic (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 some 280 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic.
- All figures are provisional and represent total reporting at time of publication plus estimates for missing data. Historic figures may be revised.
- Domestic RPKs accounted for about 36% of the total market. It is most important for North American airlines as it is about 66% of their operations. In Latin America, domestic travel accounts for 46% of operations, primarily owing to the large Brazilian market. For Asia-Pacific carriers, the large markets in India, China and Japan mean that domestic travel accounts for 45% of the region's operations. It is less important for Europe and most of Africa where domestic travel represents just 11% and 14% of operations, respectively. And it is negligible for Middle Eastern carriers for whom domestic travel represents just 4% of operations.
- 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.
- Total passenger traffic market shares by region of carriers in terms of RPK are: Asia-Pacific 33.7%, Europe 26.5%, North America 23.0%, Middle East 9.5%, Latin America 5.2%, and Africa 2.2%.