Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Global air passenger demand fell 3.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in April 2026 — marking a sharp slowdown primarily driven by the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on May 29. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), declined 3.4 per cent compared to April 2025, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), dropped 2.9 per cent.
Global load factor stood at 83.1 per cent, down 0.4 percentage points from the year-ago period. IATA said the downturn was largely caused by a steep collapse in travel demand for Middle Eastern carriers.
Excluding the Middle East region, global passenger demand would have recorded a 1.2 per cent increase during the month. “Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was down 3.4 per cent compared to April 2025,” IATA said.
“Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 2.9 per cent year-on-year. The load factor was 83.1 per cent (-0.4 ppt compared to April 2025),” it added. International passenger traffic fell 5.3 per cent year-on-year in April, with capacity declining 5.1 per cent. However, excluding Middle Eastern airlines, international demand grew 1.9 per cent.
“The 46.6 per cent fall in demand for carriers in the Middle East due to war in the region was so acute that it dragged overall demand down 3.4 per cent. The situation for air transport remains highly volatile. The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
