IATA Reveals Record-Breaking Load Factors in November 2025, Driven by Growth in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, While US Struggles Amid Shutdowns

Published on January 9, 2026

By: Paramita Sarkar

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has officially released its November 2025 passenger market data, confirming a strong period of growth for global air travel, driven largely by robust demand in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. However, despite the positive performance, the United States faced a slight decline in air travel demand, primarily due to the impacts of a government shutdown and supply chain disruptions affecting the aerospace industry.

What Happened?

IATA’s report reveals a 5.7% increase in total demand (measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK)) for November 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, highlighting the strong recovery in international and domestic markets. This growth reflects a steady expansion in air travel, with a particularly notable increase in international travel, where demand grew by 7.7%.

One of the key indicators of the air travel industry’s strength is its load factor, which reached a record 83.7% in November 2025. This was an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to November 2024, showing that airlines are continuing to meet growing passenger demand, despite the global supply chain challenges.

Where Did This Growth Take Place?

International Markets drove the majority of growth, with significant increases in demand across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The Middle East and Latin America also posted positive results, though with more moderate growth compared to the leading regions.

1. Africa saw the strongest growth, with demand increasing by 11.2% and capacity up by 8.5%. The continent’s airlines posted a 74.3% load factor, making it the standout performer for November 2025.
2. Asia-Pacific followed closely with a 9.3% demand increase and a 9.3% capacity increase, achieving a high 85.8% load factor despite a slight slowdown in China-Japan traffic.
3. Europe saw 6.8% growth in demand, with 6.1% increased capacity, and a solid 85.6% load factor, driven by consistent demand across major European hubs.
4. Middle East airlines experienced 9.6% growth, even amid geopolitical uncertainty, with a 81.4% load factor.
5. Latin America grew at a more modest rate of 4.4% demand, with 4.7% increased capacity, resulting in a 83.9% load factor, while North America posted the slowest growth at just 4.0%.

Why Did The US Experience a Decline?

The United States saw a -1.8% decline in domestic demand, which was the only major market to experience a downturn. This drop in demand is largely attributed to the U.S. government shutdown during the period, which affected both domestic and international travel, as well as aerospace supply chain issues that have continued to cause disruptions throughout the industry.

What Does the Data Say About Domestic Markets?

The domestic markets showed varied performances across different countries:

1. Brazil and India emerged as the fastest-growing domestic markets globally, with +8.3% and +7.7% demand growth, respectively. These markets are benefiting from expanding domestic routes and growing local economies.
2. China also showed steady growth of +6.3%, indicating continued recovery and expansion of internal routes, although it faced some challenges in international travel.
3. Japan saw a significant boost in its domestic load factor, increasing by +2.8 percentage points to reach 87.1%, reflecting a strong rebound in internal travel.
4. The United States, on the other hand, faced a decline in demand, as previously mentioned, likely due to the government shutdown, resulting in a -1.8% decrease in domestic travel demand.

What Are the Challenges Facing the Industry?

Despite record-breaking load factors and increased demand, IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly capacity constraints caused by manufacturing delays in the aerospace industry. There is currently a backlog of over 17,000 aircraft orders, which IATA has identified as a major concern for 2026.

While airlines have been able to meet growing demand in November 2025, supply chain delays have restricted the ability to fully capitalize on the booming market. Walsh noted that in 2026, the industry must focus on reducing the backlog of aircraft orders to maintain growth.

Summary of IATA’s November 2025 Data:

Conclusion: A Record-Breaking Year for Global Air Travel

The data from IATA confirms that global air travel demand continues to thrive, with November 2025 marking another period of strong recovery and growth. While international markets, particularly in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, led the way, domestic markets showed varied performance, with the United States seeing a slight decline due to external factors. Despite ongoing challenges related to supply chain constraints, IATA remains optimistic about the future, as airlines work to meet the growing demand in 2026.

This strong performance sets the stage for continued growth in the aviation sector, with the industry expected to push forward and tackle existing supply chain issues in the coming months.