Global air passenger demand rose 6.1% in February compared with a year earlier, with load factors reaching a record level for the month, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased 6.1% year-on-year, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose 5.6%. The global load factor reached 81.4%, up 0.3 percentage points and the highest February level on record.
International traffic grew 5.9%, with capacity up 5.3% and load factors at 80.5%, up +0.5 percentage points. Domestic markets saw demand rise 6.3%, broadly in line with a 6.2% increase in capacity, with load factors at 82.8% up +0.1 percentage points.
IATA said the results reflected strong underlying demand, although the outlook has become more uncertain.
Director general Willie Walsh said fuel costs have risen sharply, fares are increasing and airlines are adjusting capacity, particularly on routes linked to the Middle East or where fuel supply is constrained. He added that planned capacity growth for March has been revised down to 3.3% from earlier expectations of more than 5%.
Regional performance was mixed. Latin American carriers recorded the strongest growth, with demand up 13.5% and load factors rising to 85.0%. Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand increase 8.6%, with load factors at 86.6%, while traffic between Europe and Asia rose 14%.
European and North American carriers both reported 5.0% growth in demand. In contrast, Middle Eastern airlines recorded a 0.9% increase, with load factors falling 2.2 percentage points to 79.6%.
Domestic demand was supported by strong markets in Brazil and China, with overall growth of 6.3%.
When the next set of figures come out from IATA, the picture may change, particularly as a growing number of carriers are reducing routes and flight frequencies due to soaring fuel costs. The numbers may also show changes in passenger traffic, such as more short haul flights over long distance travel.