European air passenger demand experienced a significant uptick in July, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The number of revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased by 7.2% compared to the same month in 2023.
While this growth was slightly behind the global average of 8%, it reflects the ongoing recovery in the region’s aviation sector. The surge in demand was fueled by a 7% increase in available seat kilometres (ASKs), indicating a strong alignment between supply and demand.
International flights witnessed an even more pronounced rise, with RPKs increasing by 8.3% year-on-year. This growth outpaced the capacity increase of 8.1%, resulting in a slight improvement in load factor to 87.5%.
Key routes contributing to the European demand surge included Europe-Asia (20.1% growth), Europe-South America (14.5% growth), and transatlantic services to North America (5% growth).
Despite the temporary disruption caused by the CrowdStrike IT outage in mid-July, IATA reported no significant negative impact on demand. The association emphasised that people’s desire to travel remains strong, and load factors are approaching their maximum capacity.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, urged manufacturers and suppliers to address supply chain bottlenecks to ensure that air travel remains accessible and affordable for all. As the peak travel season concludes, the industry faces a pressing need to increase capacity to meet the growing demand.
