by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:05 AM ET, Thu May 30, 2024
International air travel demand grew nearly 16 percent year over year in April 2024, according to new data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total global air travel demand, which is measured in revenue passenger kilometers, also known as RPKs, rose 11 percent year over year. Capacity increased 9.6 percent from April 2023.
Yet international air travel demand still wins over domestic air travel demand, which across the globe rose 4 percent year over year. In the U.S., domestic air travel demand grew 3.2 percent year over year in April. The difference in growth shows how travelers are still choosing to travel internationally over traveling within their own respective countries.
February’s IATA data was similar: international travel demand grew over 26 percent year over year, while global domestic air travel grew 15 percent. While February is considered an off-season for many destinations, all regions saw double-digit growth, showcasing how travelers aren’t as concerned with traveling during less popular travel times: they’re just eager to go someplace new.
March data from the National Trade and Tourism Organization also found that more Americans were choosing to travel internationally this spring, with a 14.6 percent growth in U.S. to international air traffic passenger enplanements. Total international air traffic passenger enplanements were 22.55 million air travelers, which is 105 percent more than its pre-pandemic number. Air travel between America and Europe rose 8.5 percent compared to March, 2023.
“Passenger demand has been growing for 36 consecutive months,” said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh. “As we enter the peak northern summer travel season, there is every reason to feel optimistic for a strong summer with airlines offering a wide range of travel options. 97% of passengers asked in our recent survey said they were satisfied with their last flight. Every part of the travel value chain needs to be focused on maintaining that.”
All regions are seeing growth in demand and load factor. The region seeing the most growth in air travel demand is the Asia Pacific region, which saw a 32.1 percent increase in demand from the same month. Following it are African airlines, which saw a 15.5 percent increase in demand, and Latin American airlines, which saw a 14.5 percent increase from April 2023.
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