Demand for air travel in Africa rises by 6.4 percent while global growth remains flat
Africa still maintains the highest number of airline passengers’ growth as per latest data.
African airlines saw a 6.4 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 9.0 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 74.1 percent.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s recently released data for July 2026 global passengers’ records, total demand, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK), was up by 0.2 percent compared to July 2025.
Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.2 percent. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 0.3 percent year-on-year.
The load factor was 85.2 percent (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025).
International demand fell 0.1% compared to July 2025.
Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.5 percent.
Capacity was up 0.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.2 percent (-0.3 ppt compared to July 2025).
Domestic demand grew 0.6 percent compared to July 2025. Capacity increased 0.2 percent year-on-year.
The load factor was 85.3 percent (+0.3 ppt during the same reference period).
“The peak Northern summer travel season is a mostly positive story for air travel. Overall growth of 0.2 percent in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East,” IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability, and Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen revealed.
“Notably, traffic through the Gulf hubs continues its recovery trajectory. Although high fuel costs, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions continue, carriers are expressing confidence in demand for the last part of the year with an almost 3 percent expansion of seat capacity in September,” said Owens.
Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets
International Revenue Passenger Kilometers fell 0.1 percent, with capacity rising 0.3 percent. However, excluding the Middle East carriers, total demand rose by 1.5 percent.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 0.7 percent year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity decreased 1.7 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.5 percent (+0.9 ppt compared to July 2025).
European carriers saw a 3.1 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose 3.2 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.1 percent (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025).
Passenger traffic between Europe and Asia grew 12.1 percent representing the strongest expansion of any major international corridor.
North American carriers saw a decrease in demand of 2.3 percent year-on-year. Capacity decreased a similar 2.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 88.2 percent (0.0 ppt compared to July 2025).
The key transatlantic corridor fell by 2.2 percent, with notable declines in traffic from UK, France, and Spain.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 9.5 percent year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity fell 5.8 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.9 percent (-3.3 ppt compared to July 2025). The decline in traffic continues to moderate after the double-digit fall earlier in the year.
Latin American airlines achieved a 7.1 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 7.2 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 85.7% (-0.1 ppt compared to July 2025).
African airlines saw a 6.4 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 9.0 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 74.1 percent (-1.8 ppt compared to July 2025).
Domestic Passenger Markets
Domestic Revenue Per Kilometer (RPK) grew 0.6 percent in July 2026 compared to the same month last year. China and Brazil all had strong growth, but the United States, Australia and India incurred decreases.