African airlines saw a 7.1% year-on-year increase in demand in August 2025, while capacity was up 5.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 79.7%, a 1.3 percentage point (ppt) improvement compared to August 2024. These figures are contained in the latest date for August 2025 global passenger demand from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

On a regional level, Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.8% year-on-year increase in demand and 9%, 8.2% and 5.3% came in from Latin America, the Middle East and  European carriers, respectively.

“August year-on-year demand growth of 4.6% confirms that the 2025 peak northern summer travel season reached a new record high. Moreover, planes were operating with more seats filled than ever, with a record load factor of 86%. 

Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, the global growth trend shows no signs of abating, as October schedules are showing airlines planning 3.4% more capacity. Airlines are doing their best to meet travel demand by maximising efficiency, making it even more critical for the aerospace manufacturing sector to sort out its supply chain challenges,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 

On the domestic front, total demand, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK), which looks at actual passenger traffic, rose 1.5% over August 2024 and contributed only 13% of the global increase in August RPK, which in turn was down from 25% a year ago.

Global RPK was up 4.6% compared to August 2024. Moreover, total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 4.5% year-on-year. The August load factor was 86%, a marginal increase of 0.1 ppt compared to August 2024 and a record high for calendar month.

IATA also showed how international demand rose 6.6% compared to August 2024 and capacity was up 6.5% year-on-year, while the load factor was 85.8%.