Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 21.5% compared to February 2023 in data reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 18.7% year-on-year (YoY). However, with 2024 being a leap year and thus February 2024 having one extra day in comparison to February 2023, the growth may be somewhat exaggerated in terms of both capacity and demand.
International demand was up 26.3% and capacity was up 25.5% YoY. Domestically, demand rose 15% and capacity by 9.4% YoY. All regions, except North America, reported double digit growth, with Asia Pacific seeing the strongest YoY growth in demand capacity at 37.8% and 30.1%, respectively. North America, while still positive, had the lowest growth with 8.9% increase in demand and 8.8% increase in capacity YoY.
""The strong start to 2024 continued in February with all markets except North America reporting double-digit growth in passenger traffic,"" said IATA director general Willie Walsh.
February load factor increased by 1.9 percentage point to 80.6%; international load factor was up 0.5 percentage point to 79.3% and domestic load factor was up four percentage points to 82.6%.
February passenger demand up 21.5%
