Global February air demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), increased by 6.1 per cent year-on-year in February, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
February's total capacity, as measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 5.6 per cent compared with February 2025. Passenger load factor for the month was 81.4 per cent, up by 0.3 percentage points and the highest February load factor on record.
European airlines saw a 5 per cent year-on-year increase in traffic in February with capacity rising 4.5 per cent, which helped load factor improve by 0.4 points to 75.6 per cent.
But the impact of the ongoing Iran war has cast a huge shadow over the airline industry’s prospects in the coming months, including a major spike in fuel costs which is leading to higher airfares.
"February was a strong month," said IATA director general Willie Walsh, who will depart IATA when his tenure ends on 31 July to become CEO of Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo.
"However, without knowing the length and intensity of the war in the Middle East, it is impossible to quantify the full impact that it will have on airline prospects.
"But some things are already clear," he continued. "Fuel costs have risen sharply. With tight capacity and thin margins, airfares are already rising. Capacity deployment is also adjusting, particularly for traffic to, from, or through the Middle East, or in areas where fuel supply is an issue."
Walsh added that capacity growth scheduled for March has eased to 3.3 per cent year-on-year from earlier projections of more than 5 per cent.
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Latin America and the Caribbean led February's international demand by region with 13.5 per cent growth year-on year. All regions reported increases in international RPKs for the month, but the Middle East had the smallest gain at 0.9 per cent.
February capacity increased year-on-year in each of the six regions in the report, with Latin America and the Caribbean the highest with a 9.3 per cent rise. The US had the lowest capacity increase at 2.4 per cent for the month.