African airlines see 6.7% increase in passenger demand

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2025 global passenger demand showing African airlines saw a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand.

Capacity was up 4.0 percent year-on-year. The load factor rose to 75.3 percent (+2.0 ppt compared to February 2024).

For global traffic, total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 2.6 percent compared to February 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 2.0 percent year-on-year. The February load factor was 81.1 percent (+0.4 ppt compared to February 2024).

International demand rose 5.6 percent compared to February 2024. Capacity was up 4.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.2 percent (+0.9 ppt compared to February 2024).

Domestic demand fell 1.9 percent compared to February 2024. Capacity was down 1.7 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 82.6 percent (-0.2 ppt compared to February 2024).

“While traffic growth slowed in February, much of this can be explained by factors including the leap year, and lunar new year falling in January compared to February last year.

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“February traffic hit an all-time high, and the number of scheduled flights is set to continue increasing in March and April. But we need to keep a close eye on developments in North America, which saw falls in both domestic and international traffic,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.5 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 8.3 percent year-on-year and the load factor was 85.7 percent (+0.9 ppt compared to February 2024).

European carriers had a 5.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.9 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 75.5 percent (+0.5 ppt compared to February 2024).

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 3.1 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 1.3 percent year-on-year and the load factor was 81.9 percent (+1.4 ppt compared to February 2024).

North American carriers saw a -1.5 percent year-on-year fall in demand. Capacity decreased -3.2 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 78.9 percent (+1.3 ppt compared to February 2024).

Latin American airlines saw a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 9.9 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 81.7 percent (-2.5 ppt compared to February 2024).

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.