The air transport sector witnessed a strong growth last April with an increase of the number of passengers by 8% compared to the same period in the year 2024, due to the increase in the number of flights and the improvement of services, in addition to the return of confidence in travel around the world.
Experts said that this increase is an indication of achieving records in the number of travelers during the summer season this year, especially with the increase in tourism performances and festivals that began to spread in many countries.
The International Air Transport Federation (IATA) issued global demand for travel for April 2025, which showed a total demand, measured by the number of passengers per kilometer by 8% compared to the April 2024. The total capacity increased, measuring the number of seats available per kilometer, by 6.5% on an annual basis. The load coefficient in April reached 83.6%.
International demand growth
The international travel demand increased by 10.8% compared to the April 2024. The capacity increased by 8.5% on an annual basis, and the load factor reached 84.1% (+1.7 Celsius compared to the April 2024), which is its highest level ever in April.
As for the local demand, it increased by 3.3% compared to the April 2024. The capacity increased by 3.1% on an annual basis. The load coefficient reached 82.7% (+0.1 percentage points compared to the April 2024).
“The month of April was a positive month for travel, as it enhanced growth, especially in international demand, which recorded record load rates during the month,” said Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Federation. The return of the via Atlantic aviation market to growth is very encouraging. However, there are some indicators on the fragility of consumers and companies with the continued weakness of the American local market and a sharp decrease in the first -class travel in North America.
Middle East region
Regionalism, airlines in the Middle East witnessed an increase in demand by 11.2% on an annual basis, and the capacity increased by 6.6% on an annual basis as well, and the load factor reached 83.1% (an increase of 3.4 percentage points compared to the April 2024).
As for the airlines in the Asia Pacific region, the demand increased by 14.4% on an annual basis. The capacity increased by 12.7% on an annual basis, and the load coefficient reached 85.3% (+1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the April 2024).
While European airlines achieved a 9.4% increase in demand on an annual basis. The capacity increased by 7.7% on an annual basis, and the load coefficient reached 84.5% (+1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the April 2024).
The airlines in North America witnessed an increase in demand by 5.4% on an annual basis. The capacity increased by 2.6% on an annual basis, and the load coefficient reached 83.4% (an increase of 2.2 percentage points compared to the April 2024).
The airlines in Latin America also witnessed an increase in demand by 13.9% on an annual basis. The capacity increased by 14.6% on an annual basis. The load coefficient reached 83.2% (a decrease of 0.6 percentage points compared to the April 2024).
As for African airlines, they achieved an increase in demand by 13.6% on an annual basis. The capacity increased by 8.9% on an annual basis. The loading factor reached 76.3% (+3.1 percentage points compared to April 2024).