The most recent data for global aviation demand for November 2025 indicates that African airlines were the stand-out performers, with carriers on the continent achieving an 11.2% year-on-year increase in passenger demand. 

Passenger capacity for African airlines was up 8.5% year-on-year while the load factor was 74.3% (+1.8 ppt compared to November 2024).

This is compared to European carriers who achieved a 6.8% year-on-year increase in demand. For airlines in the EU capacity increased 6.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6% (+0.5 ppt compared to November 2024).

These figures for November 2025 global passenger demand were released last week by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The overall report shows that total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 5.7% compared to November 2024. 

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 5.4% year-on-year and the load factor was 83.7% (+0.3 ppt compared to November 2024), a record high for November.

Meanwhile, total international demand rose 7.7% compared to November 2024 while global capacity was up 7.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.0% (+0.4 ppt compared to November 2024).

Regional domestic demand increased 2.7% compared to November 2024. Capacity was up 2.7% year-on-year and the load factor was 83.2% (unchanged compared to November 2024).

“November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year-on-year growth of 5.7%. Load factors reached a new record of 83.7% for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain. The new year’s resolution for the manufacturing sector must be to increase production to meet the needs of their airline customers. The backlog of more than 17 000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

Air cargo 

On the air cargo side, IATA data shows that traffic in the Africa-Asia trade lane grew by 9.5%, signalling the fifth consecutive month of growth, although this is off a low base and represents a 1.4% market share of the global air cargo industry. By comparison, total global demand for air cargo traffic rose 5.5% vs November 2024 levels while capacity expanded by 4.7% year-on-year. 

As a region, Africa accounts for 2% of the global air cargo market. 

IATA added that total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose by 5.5% compared to November 2024 levels (+6.9% for international operations). Cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), increased by 4.7% compared to November 2024 (+6.5% for international operations). 

“Air cargo demand grew 5.5% year-on-year in November 2025, boosted by shippers prioritising timely delivery in the lead-up to the year-end holiday season. Strong emerging market demand and selective Middle Eastern growth more than made-up for softness in the Americas amid ongoing adjustment to the new US tariff regime,” he said.  

“Globally, the fourth quarter for air cargo was resilient as strategic re-routing of trade shaped performance across key markets. The strong end for 2025 bodes well for the air cargo industry as it enters the new year,” said Walsh.