The global passenger demand measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 2.1% compared to March 2025.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that represents over 360 airlines accounting for some 85% of global air traffic, released data for March 2026, compared to March 2025, the total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 1.7%, load factor was 83.6%.
Likewise, international demand fell -0.6%, capacity was down -6.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.1%. The overall decline in international traffic was led by a -60.8% fall in traffic by carriers in the Middle East. International RPK fell -0.6% due to the major decrease in Middle East traffic.
In contrast, other international markets grew by 9%, and the passenger load factor rose in all regions except the Middle East.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved 11.5%, European carriers saw 7.7%, North American carriers saw a 3.7% increase in demand.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 60.8% decrease in demand.
But Latin American airlines achieved a 12.1% increase in demand while African airlines also saw a 19.2% year-on-year increase in demand.
Meanwhile, IATA called on African governments to prioritize aviation as a strategic enabler of economic and social development.
At its Focus Africa Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IATA urged governments to pursue a comprehensive aviation strategy with various elements.
These priorities are being addressed at IATA’s Focus Africa Conference, underway in Addis Ababa, which brings together industry leaders and government representatives to identify concrete actions to strengthen aviation across the continent and optimize its contribution to sustained economic growth.
