KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Global air passenger demand for August 2026, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), contracted by 0.8 per cent compared with August 2025 due to interruptions in the recovery trajectory for carriers in West Asia, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA senior vice-president for sustainability and chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen said the region’s carriers reported that demand was 14.6 per cent lower year-on-year, reversing an improving trend.
"Excluding the West Asia carriers, demand for air travel grew by 0.6 per cent y-o-y in August, half the pace seen in July.
"With some important exceptions such as domestic China, global connectivity was generally weaker in August," said Thomsen.
The coming months will reveal whether travellers, whose purchasing power has been reduced by higher energy prices, are adjusting their travel budgets. They may be discouraged from travelling due to prevailing geopolitical instability, she said.
"In the meantime, forward schedules for October are showing cautious optimism with 2.0 per cent growth in available seats," she said.
IATA said total capacity measured in available seat kilometres (ASK) rose by 0.3 per cent y-o-y, while load factor was 85.1 per cent, contracting by 0.9 percentage points (ppt) against August 2025.
On regional breakdown in international passenger markets, IATA said international RPK fell 0.9 per cent versus August 2025. Excluding West Asia, demand grew by 1.3 per cent y-o-y.
Capacity was flat y-o-y, and the load factor was 85.0 per cent (-0.8 ppt compared with August 2025).
Meanwhile, domestic demand fell 0.5 per cent y-o-y, while capacity rose by 0.7 per cent y-o-y.
The load factor was 85.3 per cent, a -1.1 ppt decrease compared with August 2025.
IATA said Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 0.1 per cent y-o-y rise in passenger demand, but capacity fell by 0.9 per cent y-o-y. Load factor was 85.6 per cent, up 0.7 ppt versus August 2025.
"Traffic on routes within Asia fell 2.0 per cent, and capacity declined for the fourth month in a row. By contrast, traffic on the Asia-North America corridor grew by 2.5 per cent," it added.
IATA represents over 370 airlines and accounts for about 85 per cent of global air traffic.
-- BERNAMA