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Global aviation body the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has revealed its data for global passenger traffic June 2019, this week, which includes details of a new high in load factor, for this time of year.
One key takeaway from the report being the number of KM travelled by paying passengers (RPKs) increased by 5 % on June of last year. This follows an uptick on RPKs in May 2019, which rose by 4.7%. Furthermore, the report also shows that figures for the number of seats available multiplied by KMs flown (ASKs), increased by 3.3%, and load factor rose 1.4 percentage points to 84.4%, a new record for June.
Commenting on the data said Alexandre de Juniac (above), IATA’s director general and CEO, said: “June continued the trend of solid passenger demand growth while the record load factor shows that airlines are maximizing efficiency. Amid continuing trade tensions between the US and China, and rising economic uncertainty in other regions, growth was not as strong as a year ago, however.”
| JUNE 2019 (% YEAR-ON-YEAR) | WORLD SHARE1 | RPK | ASK | PLF (%-PT)2 | PLF (LEVEL)3 |
| Total Market | 100.0% | 5.0% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 84.4% |
| Africa | 2.1% | 11.7% | 7.7% | 2.5% | 70.6% |
| Asia Pacific | 34.5% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 0.5% | 82.1% |
| Europe | 26.7% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 1.0% | 87.5% |
| Latin America | 5.2% | 4.9% | 1.2% | 2.9% | 83.2% |
| Middle East | 9.2% | 7.8% | 1.5% | 4.4% | 76.7% |
| North America | 22.4% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 88.7% |
1-% of Industry RPKs in 2018 2-Year-on-year change in load factor 3-Load factor level
International Passenger Markets
June international passenger demand rose 5.4% compared to June 2018, which was an improvement from 4.6% annual growth recorded in May. All regions recorded increases in growth, led by airlines in Africa. Capacity rose 3.4%, and load factor climbed 1.6 percentage points to 83.8%.
Europe
European carriers saw traffic rise 5.6% in June compared to June 2018, in line with 5.5% demand growth the month before. Capacity climbed 4.5% and load factor rose 1.0% percentage point to 87.9%, tied with North America as the highest among the regions. The solid growth occurred against a backdrop of slowing economic activity and declining business confidence in the Euro area and UK.
Middle Eastern
Airlines posted an 8.1% demand increase in June compared to the same month last year, which was well up on the 0.6% annual increase recorded in May. The timing of Ramadan which fell almost exclusively in May this year likely contributed to the strongly contrasting outcomes. Capacity rose 1.7% and load factor jumped 4.5 percentage points to 76.6%.
Asia-Pacific
June traffic rose 4.0% compared to the year-ago period, which was down from a 4.9% increase in May. US-China trade tensions have impacted demand in the broader Asia-Pacific-North America market and also within the inter-Asia market. Capacity rose 3.1% and load factor edged up 0.7 percentage point to 81.4%.
North American
Demand rose 3.5% compared to June a year ago, down from 5.0% annual growth in May, similarly reflecting US-China trade tensions. Capacity climbed 2.0%, with load factor increasing 1.3 percentage points to 87.9%.
