Global air passenger demand grew 6.1% in February 2026 compared to the same month a year earlier, with the overall load factor reaching 81.4%, the highest figure ever recorded for any February, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on March 31.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), outpaced capacity growth of 5.6%, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), pushing the load factor 0.3 percentage points above February 2025 levels. International demand rose 5.9% while domestic demand grew a stronger 6.3%, with Brazil and China the main drivers of domestic expansion.
The February results were boosted in part by a calendar effect, as the Lunar New Year fell in February 2026 rather than January as in the prior year, lifting Asia-Pacific traffic. Asia-Pacific carriers recorded 8.6% demand growth, and traffic between Europe and Asia was particularly robust at 14%, with routes to and from Spain and Italy especially strong.
Latin American airlines posted the strongest regional performance globally, with demand up 13.5% and the load factor reaching 85.0%, a jump of 3.1 percentage points on a year earlier. North American carriers grew 5.0% in demand while notably outpacing their own capacity additions of 2.4%, pushing their load factor up 2.0 percentage points to 80.9%.
African airlines recorded 4.8% demand growth in February, but capacity expanded at a faster rate of 6.6%, pushing the regional load factor down 1.3 percentage points to 74.5%, the lowest of any region worldwide. While the growth trajectory remains positive, African carriers continue to operate well below global average efficiency levels, with the capacity additions outstripping the pace at which new seats are being filled.
Middle Eastern carriers were the weakest performers globally, with demand growing only 0.9% as the conflict in the region disrupted traffic flows. Capacity rose 3.8%, pulling the Middle East load factor down 2.2 percentage points to 79.6%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh welcomed the overall results but flagged rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty as key risks. “With an RPK expansion of 6.1%, 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,” Walsh said. He noted that fuel costs have risen sharply and that airfares are already climbing in response, while capacity growth planned for March has been revised down to 3.3% from earlier projections of more than 5%.
IATA represents over 360 airlines accounting for approximately 85% of global air traffic.
