May global air traffic as measured in revenue passenger kilometers was up 10.7 percent year over year, continuing a double-digit percentage growth trajectory, according to the International Air Transport Association. Total May capacity as measured in available seat kilometers was up 8.5 percent from May 2023.
May international demand remained strong with a 14.6 percent increase year over year, while capacity was up 14.1 percent. Domestic demand rose 4.7 percent from May 2023, with capacity up 0.1 percent.
The May global load factor was 83.4 percent, up 1.7 percentage points from a year prior, and a record high for May, according to IATA. The international load factor was up 0.3 percentage points to 82.8 percent, and the domestic load factor rose 3.8 percentage points to 84.5 percent.
“With May ticket sales for early peak-season travel up nearly 6 percent, the growth trend shows no signs of abating,” IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. “Airlines are doing everything they can to ensure smooth journeys for all travelers over the peak northern summer period.”
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Regionally, all markets showed growth in international demand and capacity. The Asia-Pacific region continued to lead growth in international demand, with Asian carriers as the largest contributor to industry-wide growth in May, accounting for 42 percent of the year-over-year increase, according to IATA. That region, as did Africa, Europe and Latin America posted double-digit traffic gains from May 2023. The Middle East and North America were close behind with high single-digit percentage gains. Latin America had the highest load factor for the month at 85.1 percent, followed by Europe at 84.7 percent.
Domestic air demand also gained, but at a slower pace, with the exception of Japan, where demand declined 1.8 percent year over year. May domestic capacity change was mixed, with India showing the highest gain at 8.2 percent versus May 2023, followed by the United States, with an increase of 5.3 percent. Brazil, China and Japan reported capacity declines. India also had the highest load factor at 88.6 percent, followed by the U.S. at 86.7 percent.
Despite the gains, “our expectations of air navigation service providers are already being tested,” Walsh said. “With 5.2 million minutes of air traffic control delays racked up in Europe even before the peak season begins, it is clear that Europe’s ANSPs have unresolved challenges. And the 32,000 flight delays over the Memorial Day weekend in May show that challenges persist in the U.S., too.”
