The International Air Transport Association has reported a 5.0 per cent year-on-year increase in global passenger demand for May 2025, with international travel leading the growth, despite regional disparities and ongoing geopolitical challenges.

According to IATA’s latest data released on Monday, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, rose by 5.0 per cent compared to May 2024.

Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, also grew by 5.0 per cent during the same period.

The global load factor, which reflects how full aircraft are, stood at 83.4 per cent, down marginally by 0.1 percentage points from the previous year.

International travel demand saw a robust 6.7 per cent year-on-year increase, outpacing domestic markets. Capacity on international routes rose 6.4 per cent, with a load factor of 83.2 per cent, a record high for international flights in May.

Domestic travel, however, posted a more modest 2.1 per cent growth in demand, with a 2.8 per cent rise in capacity. The domestic load factor was 83.7 per cent, representing a 0.5 percentage point drop compared to May 2024.

“Air travel demand growth was uneven in May. Globally, the industry reported five per cent growth, with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4 per cent,” said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh.

“The outlier was North America, which reported a 0.5 per cent decline, led by a 1.7 per cent fall in the US domestic market.”

Walsh also noted that external geopolitical pressures continue to pose risks to airline operations. “Severe disruptions in the Middle East in late June remind us that geopolitical instability remains a challenge in some regions as airlines maintain safe operations with minimal passenger inconvenience. The impact of such instability on oil prices, which remained low throughout May, is also a critical factor to monitor.”

Despite these challenges, the outlook remains positive as travel demand heads into the peak Northern Hemisphere summer.

“Importantly, consumer confidence appears to be strong with forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season, giving good reason for optimism,” Walsh added.