Air travel growth slows in June

Growth in air travel demand slowed to 2.6% in June off the back of conflict in the Middle East, with European carriers reporting a year-on-year increase of 2.8%.

Latest data from The International Air Transport Association (Iata) showed demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres was up 2.6% on June 2024, while total capacity was up 3.4%.

Iata director general Willie Walsh said the growth was slower than in previous months and continued to lag increases in capacity but hailed “very strong” load factors.

Walsh said: “In June, demand for air travel grew by 2.6%. That’s a slower pace than we have seen in previous months and reflects disruptions around military conflict in the Middle East.

“With demand growth lagging the 3.4% capacity expansion, load factors dipped 0.6 percentage points from their all-time record-high levels.

“At 84.5% globally, however, load factors are still very strong. And with a modest 1.8% capacity growth visible in August schedules, load factors over the Northern summer are unlikely to stray far from their recent historic highs.”