IATA: 3.6% Air Passenger Growth in September; Air Cargo Demand Up 2.9% in September, Seventh Straight Month of Growth

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2025 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.6% compared to September 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 3.7% year-on-year. The September load factor was 83.4% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

• International demand rose 5.1% compared to September 2024. Capacity was up 5.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.6% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

• Domestic demand increased 0.9% compared to September 2024. Capacity was up 1.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.0% (-0.1 ppt compared to September 2024).

“Solid international demand drove 90% of September’s 3.6% overall growth. Importantly, the capacity expansion slightly nudged ahead of demand growth at 3.7%. Load factors, nonetheless, remained very strong at 83.4%. With November flight schedules indicating a 3% expansion on the previous year, airlines are gearing up for continued growth into the year-end holiday season. This is despite the severe constraints of unresolved supply chain issues,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

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CARGO

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2025 global air cargo markets showing:

• Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 2.9% compared to September 2024 levels (+3.2% for international operations).

• Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 3.0% compared to September 2024 (+4.4% for international operations).

“Air cargo demand grew 2.9% year-on-year in September, marking the seventh consecutive month of overall growth. Buried in that growth is a significant alteration of trade patterns as US tariff policies, including the ending of de minimis exemptions, kick in. On one side of the equation, a decline in North America-Asia demand has set in over the last five months. But this has been more than compensated for with strong growth within Asia and on routes linking Asia to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. While many had feared an unwinding of global trade, we are instead seeing air cargo adapting successfully to serve shifting market demands,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:

• The global goods trade grew by 3.7% year-on-year in August.

• Jet fuel prices rose 5.4% in September despite lower oil prices, driven by a tighter diesel market, which doubled the crack spread year-on-year.

• Global manufacturing sentiment strengthened in September, with the PMI rising for the second straight month to reach 51.3. New export orders improved slightly to 49.6 but remained below the 50-point expansion threshold, reflecting ongoing caution amid tariff uncertainty.

Read the latest Air Cargo Market Analysis