Global airline passenger traffic down for first time since Covid

Global airline passenger demand fell by 3.4% year on year in April, marking the first contraction since the post‑pandemic recovery, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Figures for the month show the impact of the US-Iran war, with the decline driven by the Middle East market contracting by 46.6% and North America slowing by 0.3% year on year.

“Airline operations continued to face disruption from the Iran war, weighing on both capacity and demand. Higher oil prices added further pressure on operations,” said Iata in its latest monthly report on passenger traffic.

Willie Walsh, Iata director general, said: “The 46.6% fall in demand for carriers in the Middle East due to war in the region was so acute that it dragged overall demand down 3.4%."

He warned that the situation for air transport remains "highly volatile", adding: "The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up.

“Forward schedule data is showing a reduced offering in the coming months, indicating that airlines are balancing high fuel costs and weaker demand.”

Excluding the Middle East, demand – measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) – increased by 1.2% in April.

Looking at international flights, demand fell 5.3% compared to April 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.9%.

European carriers saw a “modest” 0.9% year-on-year increase in demand for international services – “a marked slowdown from 8.1% in March”, noted Iata.

Direct traffic between Europe and Asia increased 15.3% as it replaced traffic transiting via hubs in the Middle East.

More: European air connectivity ‘flatlined’ in 2025, says Iata

European airlines’ ‘confidence grows’ over jet fuel supplies