{"id":110019,"date":"2026-03-03T19:19:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T22:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/897332072"},"modified":"2026-03-03T19:19:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T22:19:55","slug":"iata-year-begins-with-pax-cargo-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/03\/iata-year-begins-with-pax-cargo-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"IATA: Year begins with pax, cargo growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2026 global passenger demand showing total demand<\/span>, measured in revenue passenger kilometres  (RPK), was up 3.8% compared to January 2025. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 3.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.0% (+0.2 ppt compared to January 2025), a record high for January. <\/span>International demand rose 5.9% compared to January 2025. Capacity was up 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to January 2025). Domestic demand increased 0.1% compared to January 2025. Capacity was down -0.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 81.2% (+0.4 ppt compared to January 2025).<\/p>\n

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January demand was skewed by a shift in the Lunar New Year from January in 2025 to February in 2026. Lunar New Year typically drives a spike in demand, as families reconnect to celebrate the holiday. The year-on-year comparison has the effect of making January 2026 demand appear slightly weaker.<\/p>\n

Willie Walsh, director General of IATA. (PHOTO: IATA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe timing of the Lunar New Year partly explains the slightly slower 3.8% expansion in January, but the fundamentals are in place for demand to continue strong growth in 2026. Schedule data, for example, indicate a 5.2% increase in global seat capacity by March, which would be the fastest expansion since April 2024. Events over the weekend have, however, introduced some uncertainty into the evolution of traffic and fuel costs. We all hope for an early peaceful resolution to the current hostilities. In the meantime, it is critical that states respect their obligation to keep civilians, and civil aviation free from harm,\u201d said Willie Walsh, IATA\u2019s Director General.<\/p>\n

\u201cAverage fares are expected to fall in real terms over the course of 2026, continuing a long-established trend of ever more affordable air travel. This is despite persistent cost pressures from rising infrastructure charges, onerous regulatory burdens, and the mounting cost of the energy transition. In the face of these cost and regulatory pressures, it is notable that 2025 saw the slowest rate of new airline start-ups since 1999. Governments who value competition should consider this a canary in the coal mine. To protect and enhance the consumer benefits of connectivity, these cost and regulatory issues must be addressed,\u201d said Walsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Air passenger market in detail \u2013 January 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
January 2026
(% year-on-year)<\/th>\n		World share1<\/sup><\/th>\nRPK<\/th>\nASK<\/th>\nPLF (%-pt)<\/th>\nPLF (level)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Market<\/strong><\/td>\n100%<\/strong><\/td>\n3.8%<\/strong><\/td>\n3.5%<\/strong><\/td>\n0.2<\/strong><\/td>\n82.0%<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Africa<\/td>\n2.2%<\/td>\n17.9%<\/td>\n16.3%<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n77.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Asia Pacific<\/td>\n34.4%<\/td>\n1.4%<\/td>\n1.8%<\/td>\n-0.3<\/td>\n83.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Europe<\/td>\n26.7%<\/td>\n6.0%<\/td>\n5.1%<\/td>\n0.7<\/td>\n80.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Latin America and Caribbean<\/td>\n5.4%<\/td>\n8.3%<\/td>\n6.0%<\/td>\n1.8<\/td>\n85.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle East<\/td>\n9.5%<\/td>\n7.4%<\/td>\n8.0%<\/td>\n-0.5<\/td>\n83.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
North America<\/td>\n21.8%<\/td>\n0.8%<\/td>\n0.1%<\/td>\n0.5<\/td>\n80.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
1<\/sup>% of industry RPKs in 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Regional Breakdown \u2013 International Passenger Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n

International RPK growth reached 5.9% in January year-on-year. All regions expanded, but year-on-year growth decelerated, particularly in Asia Pacific, reflecting the timing of Lunar New Year falling in February. The international load factor, at 82.5%, was a record high for the month.<\/p>\n