The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its latest data, showing that African airlines experienced a 10.4% year-on-year increase in demand in October 2024.

This growth is a positive development for the industry, indicating a strong and stable demand for air travel.

In contrast, airlines in the Americas and the Middle East suffered a decrease in demand during the same period. However, European airlines had the highest load factors, with African airlines’ capacity increasing by 5.3% year-on-year and load factor rising to 73.2%.

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According to IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, “Continued strong and stable demand is good news, but just as important is the steady improvement in load factors. It shows what a great job the industry is doing in flying people more efficiently.”

Walsh also emphasized the importance of efficient air travel, noting that average seat factors have risen from around 67% in the 1990s to over 83% today.

He cautioned against attempts to tax passengers off planes to reduce emissions, arguing that this would not necessarily lead to reduced emissions and would reverse decades of progress in the industry.

The IATA data also showed that total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, was up 7.1% compared to October 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, was up 6.1% year-on-year, and the October load factor was 83.9%.

International demand rose 9.5% compared to October 2023, with capacity up 8.6% year-on-year and the load factor rising to 83.5%. Domestic demand rose 3.5% compared to October 2023, with capacity up 2.0% year-on-year and the load factor at 84.5%.