Global air passenger demand declined by 0.5% in September 2026 compared with September 2025, as weaker performance in the Middle East and North America outweighed growth across several other regions, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The overall result nevertheless represented an improvement on August, with international markets returning to growth in most regions. International demand increased by 0.4% year on year, while international capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose by 0.5%. Domestic demand moved in the opposite direction, falling by 2.2% globally.
Regional performance remains uneven
Africa recorded the strongest increase in total passenger demand during September, with revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) up 5.0% from the same month in 2025. Capacity expanded by 7.7%, resulting in a passenger load factor of 73.5%, down 1.9 percentage points year on year.
Latin America and the Caribbean also reported growth, with demand rising 4.3% and capacity increasing 5.1%. Asia-Pacific demand was 0.5% higher, while Europe recorded a 0.3% increase. The figures underline the differing conditions facing airlines and airports across the major markets.
| Region | September demand | September capacity | Load factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | +5.0% | +7.7% | 73.5%, down 1.9 percentage points |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | +4.3% | +5.1% | Not stated |
| Asia-Pacific | +0.5% | Not stated | Not stated |
| Europe | +0.3% | Not stated | Not stated |
| Middle East | -8.0% | Not stated | Not stated |
| North America | -1.6% | Not stated | Not stated |
The Middle East recorded the sharpest regional contraction, with total demand down 8.0% year on year. North American demand fell by 1.6%. For international traffic specifically, African airlines reported an 8.0% increase and Latin American carriers an 8.2% rise. European airlines recorded international demand growth of 1.8%, while Middle Eastern carriers saw a 7.5% decline and North American airlines reported no change from September 2025.
Domestic traffic falls
The domestic market was a significant drag on the global result. Demand within the United States fell by 2.7% year on year, while India recorded an 8.3% contraction, its steepest decline of 2026. The figures compare passenger traffic with the corresponding month of the previous year rather than with August 2026.
“Air traffic demand fell 0.5% in September, reflecting weaknesses in the Middle East and North America. Nevertheless, this was an improvement from August, with a welcome return to growth in most international markets,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice-president of sustainability and chief economist.
Owens Thomsen also pointed to geopolitical uncertainty and volatile fuel prices as factors expected to continue affecting the operating environment. The September data therefore presents a mixed picture for network planning: international traffic was expanding in several regions, but that improvement was not sufficient to offset the decline in domestic demand and the weakness recorded in the Middle East and North America.
Passenger expectations are changing
IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger Survey identified parallel changes in how travellers expect to plan and complete journeys. The survey found increasing use of artificial intelligence for travel planning, alongside growing interest in biometric identification and digital passports.
Immigration requirements remain a barrier for many travellers, however. That finding places passenger-facing technology alongside border and documentation processes in the industry’s wider effort to reduce friction. The survey’s results sit against a traffic backdrop in which demand is growing in some international markets but remains sensitive to regional conditions and the cost environment.
- Global passenger demand fell 0.5% year on year in September 2026.
- International demand rose 0.4%, while domestic demand declined 2.2%.
- IATA’s passenger survey points to greater interest in AI, biometrics and digital passports, while immigration requirements continue to restrict travel.
