IATA: Global air passenger demand fell 0.8% year-on-year in August
IATA released global passenger demand data for August 2026. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), fell 0.8% year-on-year; excluding the Middle East, it grew 0.6%. Total capacity (ASK) rose 0.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.1%, down 0.9 percentage points year-on-year; Middle East carriers' demand fell 14.6% year-on-year, interrupting the previous improving trend.
Why recommended:IATA's August data show Middle East carriers' demand fell 14.6% year-on-year, dragging global RPK into negative territory, which can be used to observe regional divergence and October capacity arrangements.