Global air travel demand hits record February peak at 6.1% growth

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2026 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 6.1 percent  compared to February 2025. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 5.6 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 81.4 percent (+0.3 ppt compared to February 2025), the highest February figure on record.

International demand rose 5.9 percent compared to February 2025. Capacity was up 5.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.5 percent (+0.5 ppt compared to February 2025).

Domestic demand increased 6.3 percent compared to February 2025. Capacity increased 6.2 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 82.8 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to February 2025).

“With a Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK)  expansion of 6.1 percent, February was a strong month, showing that the fundamentals for demand growth were in place for a positive year.

“However, without knowing the length and intensity of the war in the Middle East, it is impossible to quantify the full impact that it will have on airline prospects. But some things are already clear. Fuel costs have risen sharply. With tight capacity and thin margins, air fares are already rising.

“Capacity deployment is also adjusting, particularly for traffic to, from, or through the Middle East, or in areas where fuel supply is an issue. Capacity growth scheduled for March, for example, has eased to 3.3 percent from earlier predictions of more than five percent,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

International RPK growth reached 5.9 percent in February compared to a year ago, with growth particularly strong in Latin America. Asia traffic benefited from the Lunar New Year travel demand. Traffic between Europe and Asia was especially robust (+14 percent), particularly between Asia and Spain and Italy.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved an 8.6 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 86.6 percent (+1.0 ppt compared to February 2025).

European carriers had a 5.0 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 75.6 percent (+0.4 ppt compared to February 2025).

North American carriers saw a 5.0 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.4 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.9 percent (+2.0 ppt compared to February 2025).

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 0.9 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 3.8 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.6 percent (-2.2 ppt compared to February 2025).

Latin American airlines saw a 13.5 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 9.3 percent  year-on-year. The load factor was 85.0 percent (+3.1 ppt compared to February 2025).

African airlines saw a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.6 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 74.5 percent (-1.3 ppt compared to February 2025).