IATA: Global Passenger Demand Up 8.1% in November 2024, but Supply Chain Challenges Persist

Global passenger demand saw a strong rise of 8.1 percent in November 2024, compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Despite the growth, IATA Director General Willie Walsh highlighted ongoing supply chain issues that are limiting airlines’ ability to fully meet the rising demand.

In its monthly report, IATA noted that international travel experienced a significant boost, with demand growing by 11.6 percent year-on-year, largely driven by strong performance from carriers in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, domestic demand saw a more modest increase of 3.1 percent, reflecting a slight deceleration compared to previous months.

“November was another month of strong growth in the demand for air travel,” said Walsh, adding that the month was also “another reminder” of the “supply chain issues” that are preventing airlines from getting the aircraft they need to meet growing demand.

Photo source: IATA

“Capacity growth is lagging demand by 2.4 ppts and load factors are at record levels. Airlines are missing out on opportunities to better serve customers, modernize their products and improve their environmental performance because aircraft are not being delivered on time.”

IATA’s data revealed that, globally, airlines are struggling with capacity growth that falls short of demand, with the load factor — representing the percentage of seats filled — reaching an “all-time high” for November at 83.4 percent. Walsh emphasized that the aerospace manufacturing sector must address these delays in aircraft delivery to meet both current demand and future growth.

Regional Trends: Europe leads in load factors

Breaking down the performance by region, Europe led with the highest load factors, achieving 85.0 percent for the month. European airlines saw a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase in demand, while their capacity grew by 7.1 percent. Asia-Pacific, which posted a remarkable 19.9 percent increase in demand, led the global recovery with strong growth from destinations like China and Japan.

In the Americas, Latin American carriers performed particularly well, with a 11.4 percent rise in demand, while North America posted a more modest increase of 3.1 percent. Airlines in the Middle East and Africa also saw positive growth, with demand increasing by 8.7 percent and 12.4 percent, respectively.

Despite the impressive numbers, Walsh cautioned that airlines remain hindered by supply chain disruptions.

“The 2025 New Year’s resolution for the aerospace manufacturing sector must be finding a fast and durable solution for their supply chain issues,” Walsh said.