Global air travel demand has remained robust into late 2025, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reporting continued passenger growth that underscores the resilience of the aviation sector worldwide.
According to IATA’s Global Outlook for Air Transport (December 2025), year-to-date global passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPK) rose by 5.3% compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting sustained momentum in global mobility despite ongoing capacity constraints and supply chain challenges.
The October 2025 air traffic data further supports this trend, with global passenger demand accelerating 6.6% year-on-year. Load factors — a key indicator of airline efficiency and demand strength — remained high, signalling that aircraft were operating near capacity even as airlines worked to match demand with available seats.
IATA’s year-to-date figures show that while regional variations persist, Asia-Pacific carriers are expected to lead overall passenger growth in 2025, with strong contributions also coming from Latin America and Africa. These trends underscore the broad-based nature of global air travel demand, driven by both leisure and international travel segments.Industry analysts note that the continued strength of air travel late in the year reflects not just a recovery from pandemic lows but a structural shift in traveller behaviour, where demand for cross-border tourism, business travel, and multi-destination itineraries remains high. Observers also highlight that the stabilization of profitability forecasts for airlines through 2026 is another sign that the industry is navigating operational challenges while maintaining growth.
As the world moves into the New Year, global aviation’s performance in late 2025 points to an optimistic outlook for travel, connectivity, and tourism demand — with airlines and airports preparing to build on this momentum into 2026.
