Total global demand for air travel rose by 5 per cent in May compared with the same month in 2024, despite a dip in North American traffic.

Figures from airline industry body IATA revealed the 5 per cent global increase in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) last month, which was matched by a 5 per cent rise in overall capacity, as measured by available seat kilometres (ASK). Overall load factor for airlines was 83.4 per cent during the month, down by 0.1 percentage points on May 2024.

Growth was led by the Asia Pacific region, which saw a 9.4 per cent year-on-year rise in RPK last month. Meanwhile Europe recorded a 3.4 per cent increase in overall demand, but RPK fell by 0.5 per cent in North America, including a 1.7 per cent drop in domestic US traffic.

IATA¡¯s director general Willie Walsh described air traffic demand as ¡°uneven¡± in May with North America¡¯s performance being an ¡°outlier¡± in global terms.

¡°Severe disruptions in the Middle East in late June remind us that geopolitical instability remains a challenge in some regions as airlines maintain safe operations with minimal passenger inconvenience,¡± warned Walsh.

¡°The impact of such instability on oil prices - which remained low throughout May - is also a critical factor to monitor. Importantly, consumer confidence appears to be strong, with forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season giving good reason for optimism.¡±

International flights drove most of the demand increase last month with RPK up by 6.7 per cent compared with May 2024. This outpaced a corresponding capacity increase of 6.4 per cent, which helped airlines to achieve a load factor of 83.2 per cent.

IATA¡¯s analysis showed that European airlines enjoyed a 4.1 per cent increase in traffic in May on the back of a capacity rise of 4.8 per cent. Although total load factor was down slightly to 84 per cent during the month ¨C a fall of 0.6 percentage points compared with May 2024¡¯s performance.