The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2025 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 2.6% compared to February 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 2.0% year-on-year. The February load factor was 81.1% (+0.4 ppt compared to February 2024).

International demand rose 5.6% compared to February 2024. Capacity was up 4.5% year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.2% (+0.9 ppt compared to February 2024).

Domestic demand fell 1.9% compared to February 2024. Capacity was down 1.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.6% (-0.2 ppt compared to February 2024).

Regional Breakdown - International markets 

International RPK growth moderated to 5.6% in February year-on-year, down from 12.3% growth in January. However, this growth meant that all regions except North America established record February levels of demand. 

Domestic markets

Domestic RPK fell -1.9% over the previous February. Load factors were almost flat (-0.2 ppt). Traffic decline in China (-3.2%) was likely due to Lunar New Year falling in January this year compared to February 2024. Falling US consumer confidence may well have contributed to the -4.2% decline in domestic US traffic. India continued to see strong demand (+13.2%) with the load factor at 90.3% (+1.4 ppt compared to February 2024).