IATA reports March passenger demand up by 13.8%

IATA has released global passenger demand data for March 2024, with highlights including:

• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 13.8 per cent compared to March 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 12.3 per cent year-on-year. The March load factor was 82.0 per cent (+1.0ppt compared to March 2023).
• International demand rose 18.9 per cent compared to March 2023; capacity was up 18.8 per cent year-on-year and the load factor improved to 81.6 per cent (+0.1ppt on March 2023).
• Domestic demand rose 6.6 per cent compared to March 2023; capacity was up 3.4 per cent year-on-year and the load factor was 82.6 per cent (+2.5ppt compared to March 2023).

Travel is in hot demand

“Demand for travel is strong. And there is every indication that this should continue into the peak Northern Summer travel season,” said IATA director general, Willie Walsh. “It is critical that we have the capacity to meet this demand and ensure a hassle-free travel experience for passengers. That means making urgent progress to resolve supply chain issues and for airports and air traffic management to be fully staffed and operating at maximum efficiency. While airlines are prepared for customer care and assistance when operational issues arise, they are fed-up of bearing the cost when delays and cancellations are the result of poor preparation in other parts of the value chain.”