IATA: Air Passenger Demand Falls 1.7% in June; Air Cargo Demand Strengthens up 8.5%

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for June 2026 global passenger demand:

• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was down 1.7% compared to June 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand declined by 0.6%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 1.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.2% (-0.4 ppt compared to June 2025).
• International demand fell 0.9% compared to June 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.1%. Capacity was down 0.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.2% (-0.2 ppt compared to June 2025).
• Domestic demand contracted 3.0% compared to June 2025. Capacity decreased 2.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.0% (-0.5 ppt compared to June 2025).

“Global demand for air travel was down 1.7% in June compared to 2025. This is largely due to domestic market declines in China, the US, and Japan, and weak but improving international demand for Middle East carriers. While Middle East performance improved, renewed tensions will not help the region’s recovery and the knock-on impact of rising fuel prices will continue to burden travelers with higher airfares.

People continue to travel, which is an important contributor to global economic growth. There is no doubt, however, that stabilizing the situation in the Middle East and normalizing oil supplies would improve prospects for airlines, economies, and societies the world over,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

View the June 2026 Air Passenger Market Analysis (pdf)

AIR CARGO

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for June 2026 global air cargo markets showing:

• Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 8.5% compared to June 2025 (9.6% for international operations).
• Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 4.4% compared to June 2025 (4.9% for international operations).

“Air cargo demand grew 8.5% year-on-year in June. While North America was the strongest contributor to growth, demand in all regions was in positive territory compared to last year.

Demand growth outpaced capacity at the global level and in all regions except Latin America and the Caribbean. Demand also grew faster than global trade, supported by high-value technology products, and urgent shipments. While this all gives strong reasons for optimism in the second half of 2026, risks remain—continuing hostilities in the Middle East and a renewed focus on tariffs by the US among them,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

• Global trade increased by 5.2% year-on-year.
• Jet fuel prices fell by 20% month-on-month in June but remained 45.8% above year-earlier levels.
• Global manufacturing activity eased slightly in June but remained supportive, while export orders weakened. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell 0.5 points to 53.0, while the New Export Orders Index remained below the 50-mark for a fourth consecutive month at 49.4. This suggests that air cargo growth was driven by specific trade flows rather than a broad-based increase in global exports.

 View June 2026 Air Cargo Market Analysis (pdf)