IATA: Demand for air travel will rise by 2.1% in March 2026

IATA disclosure (IATA) said that total demand for air travel, measured by passenger revenue per kilometre, rose by 2.1% last March, compared to the same month in 2025.

Total capacity, measured by available seat kilometres, fell by 1.7% on an annual basis. While the load factor reached 83.6% (an increase of 3.1 percentage points compared to March 2025).

Global demand for travel

Global demand for Travel decreased by -0.6% compared to March 2025. Capacity decreased by -6.2% year-on-year, while load factor reached 84.1% (an increase of 4.7 percentage points compared to March 2025).
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This overall decline in international travel was driven by a sharp decline of 60.8% in passenger traffic at Aviationin the Middle East.

Domestic demand increased by 6.5% compared to March 2025. Capacity increased by 5.6% year-on-year. While the load factor reached 83.0% (an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared to March 2025).

Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said: "Demand for air travel continued to grow during the month of March, despite the turmoil in the Middle East. The nearly 61% decline in international travel by airlines in the Middle East curbed global growth to be limited to 2.1%, while demand outside the region recorded a growth of 8%."

Walsh added: "Everyone is watching what is going on in the jet fuel market in terms of supplies and prices. In terms of supplies, in the coming months we may witness a shortage in some regions of the world that depend greatly on supplies coming from the Gulf region, especially in Asia and Europe."

He explained that the sharp rise in the cost of aviation fuel is increasingly reflected in ticket prices. Although this has not yet affected travel traffic in March or future bookings, it is still unclear at what price level travelers may begin to change their behavior.

Expectations indicate that the summer season will achieve usual levels of activity, but the flexibility of airlines is still being tested, and in this context the importance of stable fuel supplies and prices is highlighted.

He said: "At the same time, it is important that regulators prepare to give airlines some flexibility regarding take-off and landing times, given the exceptional circumstances related to airspace capacity restrictions and potential fuel rationing."

Global air travel markets

Passenger revenue per kilometer at the global level decreased by -0.6%, recording the first decline since March 2021, as a result of the significant decline in travel traffic in the Middle East region.

In contrast, other international markets grew by 9%, and passenger load factor rose in all regions except the Middle East.

Asia-Pacific

Airlines in Asia-Pacific recorded an increase of 11.5% in Annual basis in travel demand. Capacity increased by 1.5% year-on-year, while load factor reached 91.2% (an increase of 8.1 percentage points compared to March 2025).

The final days of the Lunar New Year travel period contributed to boosting the levels of travel recorded in the region, in addition to international routes that witnessed strong double-digit growth (excluding routes to the Middle East).

Air Europe

European airlines recorded an increase of 1.5% year-on-year. 7.7% year on year in travel demand. Capacity increased by 3.2% year-on-year, while load factor reached 81.4% (an increase of 3.4 percentage points compared to March 2025).

Travel traffic between Europe and Asia increased by 29.3%, thanks to the adoption of direct flights instead of transit flights through the Middle East region.

North America

North American airlines recorded an increase in travel demand by 3.7% year-on-year. Capacity increased by 0.9% year-on-year, while load factor reached 85.5% (up 2.3 percentage points compared to March 2025).

Transatlantic travel grew by 3.3%, and the growth rate between Asia and North America doubled compared to February.

Middle East Airlines

Airlines in the Middle East recorded a 60.8% year-on-year decline in demand. On travel. Capacity decreased by 56.9% year-on-year, while load factor reached 67.8% (a decrease of 6.6 percentage points compared to March 2025).

These results came as a direct result of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which led to the closure of a large part of the airspace in the region.

Latin America

Latin American airlines recorded a 12.1% year-on-year increase in demand for Travel. Capacity increased by 8.4% year-on-year.

Load factor reached 83.8% (up 2.7 percentage points compared to March 2025).

Africa Air

African airlines recorded a 19.2% year-on-year increase in travel demand. Capacity increased by 4.2% year-on-year.

Load factor reached 77.7% (up 9.8 percentage points compared to March 2025).

Domestic Travel Markets

Domestic passenger revenue per kilometer achieved a strong performance of 6.5% in March this year compared to March 2025, with capacity growing by 5.6%.

China achieved Brazil had the highest growth rate, recording a double-digit increase, and Australia and Japan also showed remarkable strong growth.

On the other hand, domestic travel witnessed a decline in India, which may be due to the decrease in the number of flights to hubs in the Middle East.

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