Thursday, August 29, 2024 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released its comprehensive data for global passenger demand in July 2024, showcasing another month of robust growth for the aviation industry. Despite facing disruptions, including a significant IT outage, the industry continued its recovery trajectory, setting new records in passenger demand and load factors. This detailed report explores the key findings from IATA’s data, analyzing the performance of both international and domestic markets, capacity growth, and regional trends that underscore the resilience and importance of air travel in the global economy.
July 2024 marked a significant milestone for the aviation industry, with total passenger demand—measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK)—rising by 8.0% compared to July 2023. This increase in demand was mirrored by a 7.
4% year-on-year growth in total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK). The global load factor, which indicates how efficiently airlines fill seats, reached 86.0%, up by 0.
5 percentage points (ppt) compared to the same period last year. One of the standout points from this data is the lack of significant negative impact from the CrowdStrike IT outage on July 19, which disrupted services across various sectors. The resilience of passenger demand despite this disruption highlights the essential nature of air travel for both leisure and business purposes.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, n.