Iata demands action on aircraft order backlog

Aircraft makers have been urged to step up production to trim a huge backlog in orders.

The call came from Iata director general Willie Walsh as the airline association reported a continuing rise in passenger demand.

Latest statistics for November show a 5.7% year on year rise in total demand, outstripping a 5.4% increase in capacity across the sector.

The load factor rose by 0.3 percentage points to a record November high of 83.7%.

International demand was up 7.7% compared to November 2024 ahead of a 7.1% increase in capacity. The load factor of 84% was up 0.4 percentage points compared to the same month a year earlier.

Domestic demand increased at a slower pace of 2.7% - matching the level of increased capacity. The load factor of 83.2% was unchanged compared to November 2024.

European carriers saw a 6.8% year on year rise in demand as capacity went up by 6.1%, while the load factor was 85.6%.

Walsh said: “November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year on year growth of 5.7%. 

“Load factors reached a new record of 83.7% for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain. 

"The new year’s resolution for the manufacturing sector must be to increase production to meet the needs of their airline customers. The backlog of more than 17,000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026.”