African airlines see 7% passenger increase in August on summer travel

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for August 2025 global passenger demand showing African airlines saw a 7.1 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 79.7 percent (+1.3 ppt compared to August 2024).

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 4.6 percent compared to August 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 4.5 percent year-on-year. The August load factor was 86.0 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024), a record high for the month.

International demand rose 6.6 percent compared to August 2024. Capacity was up 6.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.8 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024).

Domestic demand increased 1.5 percent compared to August 2024. Capacity was up 1.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 86.3 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024).

“August year-on-year demand growth of 4.6 percent confirms that the 2025 peak northern summer travel season reached a new record high. Moreover, planes were operating with more seats filled than ever with a record load factor of 86 percent. Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, the global growth trend shows no signs of abating, as October schedules are showing airlines planning 3.4 percent more capacity. Airlines are doing their best to meet travel demand by maximizing efficiency, making it even more critical for the aerospace manufacturing sector to sort out its supply chain challenges,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

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International RPK growth reached 6.6 percent in August year-on-year, and load factor reached a historic high. International traffic was by far the dominant driver of growth, accounting for 87 percent of the net increase in global RPK in August.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.1 percent (+0.2 ppt compared to August 2024). Growth was driven by strong demand from China and Japan (+11.8 percent and +12 percent respectively).

European carriers had a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was flat (0.0 ppt compared to August 2024).

North American carriers saw a 1.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.6 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.5 percent (-0.6 ppt compared to August 2024). This was the fourth consecutive month of YoY declines in international PLF for North America.

Middle Eastern carriers saw an 8.2 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose by 6.9 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.9 percent (+1.0 ppt compared to August 2024).

Latin American airlines saw a 9.0 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 9.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 84.7 percent (-0.2 ppt compared to August 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.