African air passenger demand increases 10.4%
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - African airlines saw a 10.4% year-on-year increase in demand, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) data released on Wednesday.
The capacity, measured by the number of seats available per km, was up 5.3% year-on-year. The load factor, measured by the number of passengers boarding an aircraft at any particular flight, rose to 73.2% (+3.4 ppt compared to October 2023).
Average seat factors have risen from around 67% in the 1990’s to over 83% currently.
“Politicians thinking of trying to tax passengers off planes to reduce emissions would do well to note this. Even if fewer people fly because taxes make it too expensive, it doesn’t automatically mean reduced emissions because the planes will still fly, just with fewer passengers," said AITA Director-General Willie Walsh.
"That would reverse decades hard won progress. We need to see the planes full to generate the economic and social benefits of travel with the most minimal emissions possible,” Walsh said.
The IATA released the data for October 2024 global passenger demand, showing overall total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 7.1% compared to October 2023.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 6.1% year-on-year.
The October load factor was 83.9% (+0.8ppt compared to October 2023).
International demand rose 9.5% compared to October 2023.
Capacity was up 8.6% year-on-year and the load factor rose to 83.5% (+0.6ppt compared to October 2023).
Domestic demand rose 3.5% compared to October 2023.
Capacity was up 2.0% year-on-year and the load factor was 84.5% (+1.2ppt compared to October 2023).
“Continued strong and stable demand is good news, but just as important is the steady improvement in load factors. It shows what a great job the industry is doing in flying people more efficiently.
The US showed a surprise slight decline, while all other key domestic markets showed stable growth.
Fast-growing Chinese domestic demand is being met with increased use of wide-body aircraft.
-0- PANA AO/MA 5 Dec2024
