The world’s airlines achieved a 5.2% increase in passenger demand last year over 2012, with the Middle East and Asia-Pacific showing the greatest growth.
The 2013 performance aligns with the average annual growth rate of the past 30 years, according to Iata.
Director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said: “We saw healthy demand growth in 2013 despite the very difficult economic environment.
“There was a clear improvement trend over the course of the year which bodes well for 2014.
“Last year’s demand performance demonstrates the essential and growing role that aviation-enabled connectivity plays in our world. And with system-wide load factors at 79.5% it is also clear that airlines are continuing to drive efficiencies to an ever-higher level.”
Talking about the 100th anniversary this year of the first commercial flight, Tyler said: “Forward-looking governments recognise the power of aviation to drive economic growth and spread prosperity.
“These governments are laying the foundations for our next century and in doing so will reap enormous benefits.
“But not all governments are on the same page. This anniversary year is an opportunity to remind short-sighted governments that they risk being left behind if they cripple aviation with taxes, over-burden it with onerous regulation, or fail to provide the infrastructure that it needs to grow.”