IATA Reports 6.1% Global Passenger Traffic Growth and Record February Load Factor in 2026

Global – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published its February 2026 Air Passenger Market Analysis, reporting industry-wide Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) growth of 6.1% year-on-year and a record February passenger load factor (PLF) of 81.4% — results that preceded the escalation of the middle east conflict and Strait of Hormuz closure, the full effects of which are expected to materialise in subsequent months' data.

• Total industry RPK reached 716 billion in February, accelerating from January's 4.0% year-on-year growth. The improvement was largely driven by the timing of the Lunar New Year, which fell in February 2026 versus January 2025. Industry-wide capacity (ASK) increased 5.6% year-on-year, with demand outpacing supply and pushing the PLF up 0.3 percentage points to the highest February level on record.
• International passenger traffic grew 5.9% year-on-year, with cross-border routes accounting for 60% of the net year-on-year gain in overall traffic. Domestic traffic rose 6.3%, contributing approximately 40% of net growth, driven primarily by the Chinese domestic market which expanded 12.5% year-on-year.
• Asia Pacific airlines were the largest driver of global passenger demand growth, accounting for nearly 60% of industry-wide traffic expansion. RPK increased 9.1% year-on-year (up from 1.9% in January), with international traffic rising 8.6%. The region recorded the highest PLF globally at 85.5%. Traffic between Europe and Asia was particularly robust at 14.0% year-on-year growth, with strong demand to Spain and Italy.
• Latin American and Caribbean carriers posted the second-strongest regional performance with total RPK growth of 9.2% year-on-year. International traffic surged 13.5%, the highest among all regions. The PLF reached 84.0%, a 2.3 percentage point year-on-year gain — the largest regional PLF improvement in February.
• African airlines recorded the highest total RPK growth at 11.9% year-on-year, though the PLF declined 0.8 percentage points to 75.0% as capacity growth of 13.1% outpaced demand.
• European carriers posted 4.9% year-on-year RPK growth, contributing approximately 20% of global net passenger traffic increase. The PLF reached 76.9%, up 0.4 percentage points.
• North American carriers recorded 2.8% year-on-year RPK growth, with the PLF rising 1.3 percentage points to 80.3%. International traffic grew 5.0%, while the domestic US market returned to positive territory with 1.5% growth.
• Among domestic markets, Brazil was the strongest performer for the third consecutive month at 12.6% year-on-year growth. India maintained the highest domestic PLF at 89.1%, despite traffic growth moderating to 0.6%. Australia was the only major domestic market to record a traffic decline, with RPK falling 1.1% and the PLF dropping 3.4 percentage points to 69.2% — the seventh consecutive month of year-on-year PLF decline.
• IATA noted that global seat capacity growth moderated to 3.3% year-on-year in March (revised downward from an earlier projection of 5.2%), primarily driven by substantial capacity cuts by Middle Eastern carriers following airspace closures related to the Iran conflict. April capacity growth is projected to slow further to 2.7% year-on-year.

About IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents nearly 300 airlines, driving global aviation standards, safety, and connectivity. IATA publishes monthly air passenger market analysis providing industry-wide traffic, capacity, and load factor data across all global regions.

Source: IATA Air Passenger Market Analysis, February 2026