IATA says April 2026 global passenger demand falls 3.4%

Global air passenger demand contracted in April 2026, dragged down by a severe downturn in the Middle East due to regional conflict, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total demand fell 3.4% compared to April 2025. Excluding the Middle East, global demand would have increased by 1.2%.

The association reported that Middle Eastern carriers saw a 48.1% year-on-year decrease in passenger demand, with capacity down 38.4%. The load factor, a measure of how full planes are, fell to 70.1%. IATA stated that traffic was impacted by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, though the decline slowed slightly compared to March as an uneasy ceasefire took effect.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the sharp fall in the Middle East single-handedly pulled the global figure into negative territory. He described the operating environment as highly volatile, noting that the cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares upward. Forward schedule data indicates airlines are reducing their offerings in the coming months as they balance high fuel costs against weaker demand, Walsh added.

The regional picture for passenger travel...