Brief

IATA: Global air demand down 0.8% in August

The International Air Transport Association attributes the decline to higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:48:23 GMT

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) fell 0.8% year‑on‑year in August 2026, while available seat kilometres (ASK) rose 0.3%, pushing the load factor down to 85.1%.

What happened

The August figures show a modest overall contraction, but the regional picture varied sharply. The Middle East recorded the steepest drop, with passenger demand down 14.6% and capacity falling 9.3%, reducing the regional load factor to 78.9%. In contrast, Africa posted a 6.7% increase in international demand and an 8.3% rise in capacity, though its load factor slipped to 78.4%. Latin America also saw a 6.7% rise in RPKs and a 6.4% capacity increase.

What the reports add

IATA noted that excluding Middle Eastern carriers, global demand would have risen 0.6%, indicating the region’s downturn was decisive in pulling the worldwide total into negative growth. The association linked weaker connectivity to higher energy costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, suggesting these factors could curb travel budgets in the coming months.

What was said

"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," said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA senior vice‑president sustainability and chief economist, as reported by bizcommunity.com. She added that "the coming months will reveal whether travellers, whose purchasing power has been reduced by higher energy prices, are adjusting their travel budgets, and might be discouraged from travelling due to the prevailing geopolitical instability."

How it came about

The August data follows a pattern of regional divergence that IATA has tracked throughout 2026, with earlier months showing steadier growth in Africa and Latin America while the Middle East faced mounting challenges from fuel price spikes and regional tensions.