IATA warns rising passenger numbers could cause ‘infrastructure crunch

IATA reported strong passenger demand growth and record load factors in August, but warned of a potential airport « capacity crunch »

Oct 7, 2024

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), rose 8.6% year-on-year. The load factor reached 86.2%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points year-on-year and a new record.

Key takeaways

• International demand grew 10.6% compared to August 2023, with the load factor rising 0.4 percentage points to 85.7%;
• European carriers saw a 9.1% year-on-year increase in demand, with Europe-Asia routes the fastest growing, although still below the 2019 peak;
• Strong demand growth suggests that we may soon face an infrastructure capacity crunch, limiting connectivity and options for passengers and businesses.

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