Global air passenger demand grew 0.2% in July 2026 compared to the same month last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The growth was measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK). Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.2%.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 0.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.2%, which is a 0.1 percentage point decrease compared to July 2025.
International Demand
International demand fell 0.1% compared to July 2025. However, excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.5%. Capacity was up 0.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.2%, a 0.3 percentage point decrease compared to July 2025.
Domestic demand grew 0.6% compared to July 2025. Capacity increased 0.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.3%, a 0.3 percentage point increase during the same reference period.
Regional Breakdown
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 0.7% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity decreased 1.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.5%, a 0.9 percentage point increase compared to July 2025.
European carriers saw a 3.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose 3.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.1%, a 0.1 percentage point decrease compared to July 2025. Passenger traffic between Europe and Asia grew 12.1%, representing the strongest expansion of any major international corridor.
Related: Asia Pacific Airlines Traffic Soars in July 2026
North American carriers saw a 2.3% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity decreased a similar 2.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 88.2%, unchanged from July 2025. The key transatlantic corridor fell by 2.2%, with notable declines in traffic from the UK, France, and Spain.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 9.5% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity fell 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.9%, a 3.3 percentage point decrease compared to July 2025.
Outlook
According to IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, “The peak Northern summer travel season is a mostly positive story for air travel. Overall growth of 0.2% in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East.”
Carriers are expressing confidence in demand for the last part of the year, with an almost 3% expansion of seat capacity in September. Latin American airlines achieved a 7.1% year-on-year increase in demand, while African airlines saw a 6.4% year-on-year increase in demand.
Marie Owens Thomsen notes the industry’s slow recovery. She emphasizes that despite declines in some regions, overall growth is a positive sign.
