Air travel surged in 2024, with airlines worldwide filling a record 83.5% of available seats, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This marks the highest seat occupancy ever recorded, reflecting both strong travel demand and airlines’ improved efficiency.
Global passenger demand soared by 10.4% compared to 2023, as travelers embraced both domestic and international flights. IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, said the figures prove that “2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency.”
Capacity Growth and Supply Chain Constraints
Airlines expanded capacity by 8.7% in 2024 to accommodate the surge in demand. However, industry-wide supply chain challenges limited overall seat availability, pushing airlines to optimize their existing fleets. This helped drive up the load factor to record levels.
International traffic saw a sharp increase of 13.6%, while domestic travel grew by 5.7%. December 2024 alone recorded an 8.6% rise in total demand, with international passenger numbers climbing by 10.6%.
Regional Performance Breakdown
Asia-Pacific airlines led global growth, posting a 26% increase in international traffic. Capacity expanded by 24.7%, and the load factor rose to 83.8%.
European carriers also performed strongly, with a 9.7% rise in full-year traffic. Capacity grew by 9.2%, and their load factor reached 84.1%.
North American airlines saw a 6.8% increase in demand, while Latin American carriers recorded a 14.4% jump. African airlines posted a 13.2% rise in traffic, with their load factor improving to 74.5%—the highest on record for the region.
Outlook for 2025
IATA predicts air travel demand will continue to rise in 2025, albeit at a slower pace of 8%. However, the industry faces challenges, including the need for further investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and safety improvements.
Despite these hurdles, the record-breaking 2024 figures show a strong recovery for global aviation, with airlines operating at peak efficiency and more passengers taking to the skies than ever before.
