Global Air Passenger Demand Dips 1%, Latest IATA Figures Show

Global air travel demand dipped by 0.8%, year-on-year, in August, latest monthly figures from The International Air Transport Association (IATA) show.

International travel demand was down 0.9% and domestic flight demand fell by 0.5%.

On a regional basis, European airlines saw a 2.1% demand increase. Latin American airlines saw demand rise 6.7% and African carriers saw the same increase.

However, demand fell in Asia-Pacific (-0.1%), the Middle East (-14.2%) and North America (-1.7%).

“Global demand for air transport contracted by 0.8% compared to August 2025 as the recovery trajectory for carriers in the Middle East was interrupted. The region’s carriers reported that demand was 14.6% lower year-on-year, reversing an improving trend," said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Sustainability.

"Excluding the Middle East carriers, demand for air travel grew by 0.6% year-on-year in August, half the pace seen in July. With some important exceptions such as domestic China, global connectivity was generally weaker in August. The coming months will reveal whether travelers, whose purchasing power has been reduced by higher energy prices, are adjusting their travel budgets, and might be discouraged from traveling due to the prevailing geopolitical instability. In the meantime, forward schedules for October are showing cautious optimism with 2.0% growth in available seats.”