Global air passenger demand surged by 6.6% during October, latest monthly figures from aviation industry group the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show.
All major regions showed growth, with European flight demand up 7.4%, North American demand ahead by 4.5% and the Asia-Pacific region showing 11% year-on-year growth. Demand was also healthily up for both international and domestic air travel.
IATA Director General, Willie Walsh, said: “October was a strong month for air travel with demand up 6.6% on the previous year. Of particular note is the 4.5% international traffic growth for carriers based in North America which comes after several months of basically flat performance.
“The trends for the rest of the year look encouraging: scheduled seat capacity in November is set to expand 3.6% and in December by 4.7%. This points to strong demand for holiday travel and businesses looking to complete deals by the end of the year. Considering the uncertainty in the economic outlook for 2026, the resilience of demand for air travel, with the jobs and growth it brings, is a bright spot that governments should nurture with care.”
