IATA reports record May passenger demand

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global passenger demand in May 2024, highlighting significant growth. 
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), increased by 10.7 percent compared to May 2023, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose by 8.5 percent year-on-year. The load factor reached a record high for May at 83.4 percent, which is a 1.7 percentage point increase compared to May 2023.

International demand saw a substantial rise of 14.6 percent in May 2024 compared to the previous year, with capacity growing by 14.1 percent year-on-year. The load factor for international flights improved to 82.8 percent, up by 0.3 percentage points from May 2023. Meanwhile, domestic demand increased by 4.7 percent compared to May 2023, with capacity up slightly by 0.1 percent year-on-year. The domestic load factor was 84.5 percent, marking a 3.8 percentage point increase from May 2023. Strong demand for travel continues with airlines posting a 10.7 percent year-on-year increase in travel for May. Airlines filled 83.4 percent of their seats in May 2024 , a record for the month. With May ticket sales for early peak-season travel up nearly 6 percent, the growth trend shows no signs of abating. Airlines are doing everything they can to ensure smooth journeys for all travellers over the peak northern 
summer period.