African airlines recorded one of the strongest increases in passenger demand in August, matching Latin America with 6,7% year-on-year growth.
However, Africa continued to have the lowest load factor of all regions, at 78,4% (a 1,2 percentage point decrease compared with August 2025). Capacity was up 8,3% year-on-year.
Global demand was down 0,8% compared with August 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0,6%. Total capacity increased 0,3%, while the load factor was 85,1% (a 0,9 percentage point decrease compared with August 2025).
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 14,2% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity fell 9,0% and the load factor was 79,1% (a 4,8 percentage point decrease compared with August 2025). The decline in traffic worsened in August, reversing the trend of gradual stabilisation since the Iran war in February.
“The coming months will reveal whether travellers, whose purchasing power has been reduced, are adjusting their travel budgets and might be discouraged from travelling due to the geopolitical instability. Forward schedules for October are showing cautious optimism with 2% growth in available seats,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability, and Chief Economist.
Source: www.travelnews.co.za
