Global Air Travel Demand Falls 2. 2% Amid Middle East Conflict: IATA
Global air passenger demand dropped 2. 2% year-over-year in May, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact airline traffic,accordingto the International Air Transport Association. . .
Global air passenger demand dropped 2. 2% year-over-year in May, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact airline traffic,accordingto the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), fell 2. 2% compared with May 2025, while capacity declined 2. 3%. Despite the drop, the global load factor reached a record 83. 5% for the month. Excluding the Middle East, demand increased 0. 7%. International demand was down 1. 6% year-on-year, although it rose 3. 1% excluding the Middle East. Overall domestic demand fell 3. 1%, while capacity decreased 2. 1%. Regionally, Europe posted a 3. 8% increase in international demand, while Latin America rose 10. 5%, Africa 8. 9%, Asia-Pacific 1. 3% and North America 1%. Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General attributed the global decline to "the impact of war in the Middle East," noting that Middle Eastern carriers recorded a 28. 4% decline in demand. "Overall, May demand still appeared to be largely resilient in the face of high fuel prices and airfares," he said. "While the recent sharp drop in oil prices is an encouraging development, the challenges created by the war will likely persist for some time. "Walsh added that North America and Asia also saw demand decline largely due to domestic market conditions in the US and China. On the domestic front, China recorded the largest decline in traffic, which IATA said may be linked to higher airfares and the Dragon Boat Festival falling in June this year. The US also posted a notable decline, while most other domestic markets recorded moderate growth. International Air Passenger Market in Detail:May 2026 (% year-on-year)World Share 1RPKASKPLF(%-PT) 2PLF(Level) 3Total Market100%-2. 2%-2. 3%0. 183. 5%Africa2. 2%6. 6%7. 0%-0. 373. 7%Asia-Pacific34. 4%-1. 4%-2. 4%0. 984. 3%Europe26. 7%2. 7%1. 8%0. 885. 9%Latin America and the Caribbean5. 4%6. 1%4. 6%1. 283. 4%Middle East9. 5%-28. 4%-23. 9%-4. 775. 9%North America21. 8%-0. 8%0. 1%-0. 782. 8%1) % of industry RPK in 2025 2) Year-on-year change in load factor 3) Load Factor Level