Last year set a new record in air passenger demand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA is the global representative body for the airline industry.) Total global air passenger traffic in 2024 was up 10.4%, year-on-year, and was 3.8% above that for 2019, the last year before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Y-o-y, last year international passenger demand rose by 13.6%, while domestic demand increased by 5.7%.

In terms of passenger capacity, the figure for total capacity in 2024 was 8.7% higher than in 2023. The number for international capacity rose 12.8% and that for domestic capacity increased by 2.5%.

“2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel,” affirmed IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “With 10.4% demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5% of all seats on offer were filled – a new record high, partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth. Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more.”

(Regarding the month of December alone, that gave the year a strong conclusion. Total passenger demand was up 8.6%, with international demand increasing by 10.6% and domestic demand by 5.5% (all figures y-o-y). Total capacity rose by 5.6%, y-o-y.)

The IATA region which saw the strongest y-o-y passenger demand growth during last year was the Asia-Pacific, with a figure of 16.9%. Second place was taken by Africa, with growth of 13.2%. Then came the Middle East (9.5%), Europe (8.7%), Latin America (7.8%), and North America (4.6%).

When it came to international demand, the Asia-Pacific again ranked first, with y-o-y growth last year of 26%. But Latin America ranked second, with 14.4%, and then Africa, with 13.2%. Then came Europe (9.7%), the Middle East (9.4%), and North America (6.8%).

The major domestic air travel markets monitored by IATA were Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, and the US. During 2024, the one that recorded the highest y-o-y growth was China, at 12.3%, followed by India (6%), Brazil (4.6%), the US (3.7%), Australia (3.6%), and Japan (3.2%).

“Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8% that is more aligned with historical averages,” said Walsh. “The desire to partake in the freedom that flying makes possible brings some challenges into sharp focus. First, the tragic accident in Washington [Wednesday] last night reminds us that safety needs our continuous efforts. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will never cease our work to make aviation ever safer. Second is the airlines’ firm commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Walsh highlighted that the world’s airlines made record investments in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) last year, but that, despite this, SAF accounted for less than 0.5% of airline fuel needs. He called on governments to prioritise the production of renewable fuels, of which SAF was a subset.