Geneva:Global air passenger demand experienced a 0.5% decline year-on-year in September, as reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This decrease was largely influenced by ongoing weaknesses in the Middle East and North America.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, saw a slight dip compared to September 2025. However, it grew by 0.3% when excluding the Middle East. The total airline capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, fell by 0.2% year-on-year, with the global passenger load factor slipping by 0.3 percentage points to 83.2%.

Marie Owens Thomsen, senior vice president of sustainability and chief economist at the IATA, noted that despite the decline, the figures marked an improvement from August, highlighting a return to growth in most international markets. She also mentioned that recurring patterns in demand are expected to persist due to geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating fuel prices.

International passenger demand rose by 0.4% year-on-year, climbing 1.7% when excluding the Middle East. Capacity in international markets expanded by 0.5%, with the load factor standing at 83.6%. Latin American airlines led the growth with an 8.2% surge in demand, followed by African carriers at 8%, European airlines at 1.8%, and Asia-Pacific carriers at 0.7%. North American airlines recorded flat international demand, with a 1.9% drop in capacity.

Middle Eastern carriers faced a 7.5% drop in international demand, with a 3.3% decline in capacity, driven by an 8.8% contraction on the Middle East-Asia corridor. Meanwhile, domestic air travel demand fell by 2.2% year-on-year, as domestic capacity declined by 1.3% and the load factor slipped to 82.5%.

Domestic market contractions were led by an 8.3% plunge in India and a 2.7% drop in the US, while Japan's domestic traffic edged down by 0.8% due to weather disruptions. Conversely, domestic demand expanded by 4.5% in Australia, 3.1% in China, and 2% in Brazil.