The year has begun with an increase in passenger demand, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 3.8% in January 2026, compared to the same month last year.
Total capacity was up 3.5% during the month, while load factor was a record high at 82% — up 0.2 percentage points compared to January 2025.
International demand was up 5.9% and capacity rose 5.8%. International load factor averaged 82.5%, up 0.1 percentage point compared to January 2025.
Domestic demand was up only 0.1%, though capacity was down 0.4% compared to January 2025. Load factor was up 0.4 percentage points to 81.2%.
However, the timing of Lunar New Year falling into February this year — as opposed to January last year — has skewed the results, explaining a slower growth.
“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,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh.
“Schedule data, for example, indicate a 5.2% increase in global seat capacity by March, which would be the fastest expansion since April 2024.”
Average fares are expected to fall in real terms over the course of 2026, despite persistent cost pressures.
IATA also reported that global cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, increased 5.6% in January. Capacity was up 3.6% in the month.