African airlines recorded a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger demand in July 2026, outpacing the modest growth recorded in the global air travel market during the month.
According to the latest passenger market analysis by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African carriers also expanded their capacity by 9.0 per cent compared with July 2025.
Despite the increase in demand, the region’s passenger load factor stood at 74.1 per cent, representing a 1.8 percentage-point decline from the same month last year.
The figures were contained in IATA’s latest analysis of the global passenger air travel market, based on traffic and capacity data reported by airlines worldwide.
Globally, passenger demand rose by 0.2 per cent year-on-year in July, while capacity increased by 0.3 per cent. The global passenger load factor stood at 85.2 per cent, down marginally by 0.1 percentage point from July 2025.
IATA said international passenger demand declined by 0.1 per cent globally, although demand rose by 1.5 per cent when Middle Eastern carriers were excluded. International capacity increased by 0.3 per cent, while the international load factor stood at 85.2 per cent.
Domestic passenger demand, meanwhile, grew by 0.6 per cent year-on-year, with capacity rising by 0.2 per cent and the load factor improving by 0.3 percentage point to 85.3 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Sustainability, and Chief Economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, said the peak Northern summer travel season had produced a largely positive result for the global aviation industry.
“Overall growth of 0.2% in July was achieved despite year-on-year collective declines by carriers in North America and the Middle East”, Thomsen said.
She noted that traffic through Gulf hubs was continuing its recovery, while airlines remained confident about demand in the final part of the year.
According to her, airlines are projecting an almost three per cent expansion in seat capacity in September, despite challenges including high fuel costs, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
Regional performance
European carriers recorded a 2.1 per cent increase in total passenger demand in July, while capacity grew by 2.3 per cent. Their passenger load factor stood at 87.7 per cent.
Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 1.0 per cent increase in demand, with capacity rising by 0.3 per cent. The region’s load factor improved by 0.6 percentage point to 83.7 per cent.
Latin American and Caribbean airlines recorded one of the strongest performances, with demand rising by 6.1 per cent and capacity expanding by 6.6 per cent. Their load factor stood at 85.3 per cent.
Middle Eastern airlines, however, recorded a 10 per cent decline in demand, while capacity fell by 6.2 per cent. Their load factor dropped by 3.4 percentage points to 80.7 per cent.
North American airlines also recorded a decline, with demand falling by 1.2 per cent and capacity dropping by 1.8 per cent. However, their load factor improved by 0.6 percentage point to 87.3 per cent.
For international markets specifically, European carriers recorded a 3.1 per cent rise in demand, while passenger traffic between Europe and Asia increased by 12.1 per cent, making it the strongest-growing major international corridor during the month.
African airlines’ 6.4 per cent increase in international passenger demand came as capacity expanded significantly faster, at 9.0 per cent, resulting in the 74.1 per cent load factor.
IATA represents more than 370 airlines, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of global air traffic. The association said the figures are provisional and may be revised as additional data become available.