October Air Passenger Demand Growth Accelerates to 6.6%

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published data showing that global passenger demand in October 2025 rose by 6.6% compared with the same month last year. This growth occurred despite ongoing supply chain difficulties that continue to affect fleet operations and aircraft deliveries.

Key Highlights

Global demand expanded steadily across most regions.
International traffic experienced particularly strong growth, supported by robust travel demand in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Domestic markets showed moderate but consistent increases, with several major economies returning to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

Industry Context

IATA emphasized that the industry's momentum remains solid, though unresolved supply chain challenges constrain capacity expansion. Airlines are managing these pressures by optimizing schedules and fleets while maintaining profitability targets.

“Despite supply chain bottlenecks, airlines continue to demonstrate strong operational resilience,” said an IATA spokesperson.

Outlook

The organization expects demand to remain strong through the remainder of 2025, driven by leisure and business travel recovery. However, it cautioned that resolving aircraft part shortages and production delays will be key to sustaining growth.

Author’s summary:
IATA reported that global air passenger demand increased by 6.6% in October 2025, showing strong recovery momentum despite persistent supply chain limitations.

IATA — 2025-11-28