United States Joins Mexico, Brazil, China, Japan, Vietnam and Other Countries in Leading International Air Travel and Domestic Growth Continues, But Slows Slightly

Published on December 2, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

The United States joins Mexico, Brazil, China, Japan, Vietnam, and other countries in leading international air travel growth, according to the latest data. International air travel demand continues to rise, with these nations playing a key role in driving this growth.

While international markets soar, domestic growth in the United States and other regions has slowed slightly. Despite this, demand remains strong, and airlines are adapting to keep up with the changes. The shift in growth patterns highlights how global air travel is evolving, with certain regions experiencing more robust increases than others.

As the United States, Brazil, and other countries lead the way in international travel, it’s clear that the demand for air travel is recovering strongly. So, what does this mean for the future of domestic and international aviation? Let’s explore the trends shaping air travel in the coming months and how these key countries are influencing the industr

IATA has announced a significant 6.6% global passenger demand increase in October 2025, compared to the same period last year. The rise in demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), signals a steady recovery in the air travel industry. Notably, international demand surged by 8.5%, contributing to the overall growth.

While the domestic market saw a smaller 3.4% increase, the global aviation market is clearly on the up. As airlines adapt to new challenges, the strong international demand shows how resilient air travel is, even amidst global uncertainties. The October figures are a promising sign, pointing to continued growth in the latter part of 2025.

But what’s driving this surge in demand, and how will it impact the airline industry in the coming months? Let’s dive deeper into IATA’s October 2025 passenger demand report to understand the key trends shaping air travel.

October 2025: A Strong Month for Global Passenger Demand

October 2025 was a strong month for air travel, with a 6.6% increase in global passenger demand compared to October 2024. The total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was a positive sign for the aviation industry, reflecting a robust recovery. Airlines worldwide are seeing more passengers flying as restrictions continue to ease and economic activity picks up. The increase in demand was driven by a sharp rise in international traffic, which rose by 8.5% year-on-year. While the international market showed a particularly strong recovery, domestic travel also continued its growth, albeit at a more modest pace.

The global capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), also grew by 5.8%, although not as quickly as demand. This indicates that airlines are working hard to meet the rising demand but are still playing catch-up in terms of available seating. The overall load factor in October 2025 reached 84.6%, which is a 0.7 percentage point increase from October 2024. This number represents the percentage of available seats that were filled, indicating a healthy and efficient use of airline capacity.

International Air Travel Leads the Way with 8.5% Growth

International passenger demand showed impressive growth, rising 8.5% compared to October 2024. This marks a continuation of the global trend toward increased international travel. As borders have opened and pent-up travel demand has been released, international travel has surged, particularly in certain regions. For example, airlines in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East saw significant year-on-year demand increases. Asia-Pacific airlines, in particular, recorded a 10.9% increase in demand, driven by travel to and from major destinations like US, China, Japan, and Vietnam. The Middle East also posted strong growth, with demand increasing by 10.7%, a result of its expanding network and a low base from the previous year when geopolitical tensions had disrupted travel.

The demand for international flights was supported by increased capacity, which rose by 7.1% year-on-year. This helped airlines meet the surging passenger numbers and maintain healthy load factors. The international load factor for October 2025 was 84.6%, reflecting efficient utilization of available seat capacity on international routes. Airlines based in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia have been particularly successful in capturing this rising demand, positioning them for strong performance in the coming months.

Domestic Air Travel Growth Continues, but Slows Slightly

While international travel led the charge in terms of growth, the domestic air travel market continued to show positive results. Domestic demand rose by 3.4% compared to October 2024, although this increase was somewhat slower than the previous months. This more modest growth reflects the saturation in some domestic markets, as most countries, including the US and China, have seen steady recovery after the pandemic-induced declines. However, the US domestic market saw a return to growth after two months of contraction, signaling a return of consumer confidence and business travel activity.

In Brazil, domestic air travel performed exceptionally well, with a remarkable 12.4% increase in demand. This highlights how specific regions and markets continue to see robust travel recovery, with Brazil being one of the standout performers. Despite this, the domestic load factor remained stable at 84.6%, with a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to October 2024, indicating that airlines are still working to fill seats efficiently across all domestic markets.

Regional Breakdown: Growth Across All Major Regions

Breaking down the regional performance, the data shows that all regions except North America saw improvements in their load factors. In Europe, demand grew by 6.7%, with capacity increasing by 5.4%. European carriers enjoyed a 1.1 percentage point increase in their load factor, which reached 87.0%. This is an excellent performance, especially given that the region had faced slow recovery in the early months post-pandemic.

Asia-Pacific airlines had the highest year-on-year demand growth of any region, with an 8.1% increase in RPKs. This was driven by a surge in traffic within Asia, particularly between major hubs in China, Japan, and Vietnam, which each posted growth figures exceeding 10%. The region’s capacity grew by 6.6%, resulting in an overall load factor of 85.1%, up 1.2 percentage points from October 2024.

Middle Eastern carriers also had a strong showing, with demand rising by 10.5%. The region saw significant capacity expansion, with a 8.1% increase in available seat kilometers. Despite the increase in capacity, the Middle East posted a load factor of 82.4%, which was still a solid performance considering the region’s relatively low base from the previous year.

Looking Ahead: Strong Demand Expected for Holiday Travel

Looking ahead to the end of 2025, the strong trends in passenger demand are expected to continue. According to IATA, scheduled seat capacity is set to expand by 3.6% in November and 4.7% in December, pointing to strong demand for holiday travel. Airlines are preparing for increased travel activity during the festive season as businesses look to close deals by the end of the year and families take vacations. The positive growth in passenger demand, despite the uncertain economic outlook for 2026, is a clear sign that air travel is continuing to recover and thrive.

As the holiday season approaches, airlines will need to continue scaling their operations to meet this surge in demand. The increased availability of flights and continued growth in international and domestic markets will ensure that more people can take to the skies this winter. The resilience of demand for air travel is a testament to the recovery of the global aviation sector, and governments are urged to continue supporting the industry’s growth.

Conclusion: Air Travel Growth Remains Robust in October 2025

October 2025 marked a successful month for the air travel industry, with a 6.6% increase in global passenger demand, driven by strong international growth. While domestic demand continued to grow at a more moderate pace, the overall performance indicates a healthy and expanding global aviation market. Regions like Asia-Pacific and the Middle East led the way, with robust demand increases and improved load factors. As we move into the final months of the year, airlines are gearing up for strong holiday traffic, with continued growth in both international and domestic travel. The aviation sector’s resilience is evident, and IATA’s latest report paints an optimistic picture for the future of air travel.