However, excluding the Middle East, demand grew slightly – by 0.7%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), decreased 2.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to May 2025), a record high for May.
International demand fell 1.6% compared to May 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 3.1%. Capacity was down 2.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.7% (+0.7 ppt compared to May 2025).
Domestic demand contracted 3.1% compared to May 2025. Capacity decreased 2.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.0% (-0.8 ppt compared to May 2025).
‘Air passenger demand was down 2.2% year-on-year in May on the impact of war in the Middle East. The decline was centred on carriers in the Middle East with a 28.4% year-on-year fall. That’s a significant improvement on the 46.6% decline recorded for April, a sign of the region’s resilience,’ says said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. ‘Notably, we also saw year-on-year contractions in demand in both North America and Asia, largely related to domestic market conditions in the US and China.
‘Overall, May demand still appeared to be largely resilient in the face of high fuel prices and air fares. While the recent sharp drop in oil prices is an encouraging development, challenges created by the war will likely persist for some time.’
International RPK fell 1.6%, with capacity falling 2.4%. The pace of decline reduced compared to April and many regions hit record load factors for May, with only the Middle East posting a load factor decline.
