The aviation sector has experienced a continued surge in global air travel at the start of 2025, as highlighted by the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
January 2025 saw strong passenger demand, with several key indicators signaling a thriving industry. Globally, passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by a solid 10.0% compared to January 2024. This significant rise demonstrates the growing global demand for air travel.
Airlines also expanded their capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), by 7.1% year-on-year. This expansion contributed to a remarkable load factor of 82.1%, representing the percentage of seats filled on flights. This figure, which is 2.2 percentage points higher than January 2024, marks an all-time high for the month, showcasing airlines’ growing efficiency in filling seats.
The strong performance in January signals a promising year ahead for the aviation industry, with continued passenger demand and improved operational efficiency.
