Air Passenger Demand Falls 3.4% in April, Says IATA
Global Air Passenger Demand Impacted by Middle East Conflict
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a decline in global air passenger demand for April 2026, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East significantly affecting airline traffic across the region.
According to IATA, total demand, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK), fell by 3.4 per cent compared with April 2025. However, when Middle Eastern markets are excluded, global demand increased by 1.2 per cent year-on-year.
Total airline capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), decreased by 2.9 per cent, while the global load factor stood at 83.1 per cent, down 0.4 percentage points compared with the same period last year.
International Travel Records Decline
International passenger demand fell by 5.3 per cent year-on-year, while international capacity declined by 5.1 per cent.
Excluding the Middle East, international demand grew 1.9 per cent, indicating that the decline was largely concentrated in markets affected by regional instability.
Domestic travel remained unchanged compared with April 2025. Capacity increased by 0.8 per cent, while the domestic load factor declined by 0.7 percentage points to 81.9 per cent.
Commenting on the results, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the sharp reduction in Middle Eastern traffic had a significant impact on overall industry performance. He also noted that jet fuel prices more than doubled during April, increasing operating costs for airlines and placing upward pressure on airfares.
Global Air Passenger Market Performance
| April 2026 (% year-on-year) | World Share | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-PT) | PLF (Level) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 100% | -3.4% | -2.9% | -0.4 | 83.1% |
| Africa | 2.2% | 2.8% | 2.0% | 0.6 | 77.7% |
| Asia Pacific | 34.4% | 1.7% | 0.7% | 0.9 | 85.1% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 0.8% | 0.4% | 0.4 | 85.4% |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 5.4% | 5.0% | 4.3% | 0.5 | 82.9% |
| Middle East | 9.5% | -46.6% | -37.2% | -12.5 | 70.6% |
| North America | 21.8% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.5 | 81.5% |
Regional Performance in International Markets
The Middle East recorded the largest decline among all regions, with demand falling by 48.1 per cent year-on-year. Capacity declined by 38.4 per cent, while load factors dropped to 70.1 per cent.
IATA stated that traffic continued to be affected by the conflict involving Iran, although the pace of decline eased slightly compared with March following the introduction of a ceasefire.
Elsewhere, most regions reported growth in international travel demand.
- Asia-Pacific recorded a 3.0 per cent increase in demand, with a load factor of 87.5 per cent.
- Europe reported demand growth of 0.9 per cent, supported by increased direct travel between Europe and Asia.
- North America remained unchanged compared with the previous year.
- Latin America posted an 8.9 per cent increase in demand.
- Africa recorded a 2.2 per cent rise in international passenger traffic.
Domestic Passenger Market Performance
Domestic air passenger demand remained flat overall, with mixed results across major markets.
Air Passenger Growth in Brazil, China and Japan was offset by declines in Australia, India and the United States.
| April 2026 (% year-on-year) | World Share | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-PT) | PLF (Level) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 37.2% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.7 | 81.9% |
| Australia | 0.8% | -0.4% | 3.8% | -3.4 | 79.8% |
| Brazil | 1.2% | 2.6% | 4.5% | -1.5 | 79.6% |
| China | 11.3% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.2 | 84.2% |
| India | 1.7% | -2.9% | 2.3% | -4.3 | 81.6% |
| Japan | 1.0% | 3.7% | -1.4% | 3.7 | 74.7% |
| United States | 13.6% | -0.6% | 1.0% | -1.2 | 79.6% |
Industry Outlook Remains Uncertain
While several regions continued to report growth in air passenger traffic, airlines remain challenged by rising fuel costs, changing demand patterns and geopolitical developments.
IATA noted that forward schedule data indicates airlines are adjusting future capacity in response to higher operating expenses and softer demand in certain markets.
The association said the aviation sector continues to face a rapidly changing operating environment, with regional conflicts and economic pressures influencing travel patterns across global markets.
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