Middle East conflict drags global air passenger demand down 3.4pct in April – IATA

KUALA LUMPUR: The Middle East conflict dragged down total air passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), by 3.4 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in April 2026, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

However, excluding the Middle East market, it said demand increased 1.2 per cent y-o-y during the month.

“Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), decreased 2.9 per cent y-o-y, while the load factor stood at 83.1 per cent, down 0.4 percentage points (ppt) compared with April 2025,” it said in a statement late Thursday.

On international demand, IATA said it fell 5.3 per cent y-o-y in April 2026, but excluding the Middle East, demand grew 1.9 per cent y-o-y.

“Capacity was down 5.1 per cent y-o-y, while the load factor stood at 83.9 per cent, 0.2 ppt lower compared to April 2025,” the association said.

On domestic demand, IATA said it was flat compared with April 2025. Capacity increased 0.8 per cent y-o-y while the load factor came in at 81.9 per cent, down 0.7 ppt from the same period last year.

IATA director general Willie Walsh said the 46.6 per cent fall in demand for carriers in the Middle East due to war in the region was so acute that it dragged overall demand down by 3.4 per cent in April 2026.

“The situation for air transport remains highly volatile, and the cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up,” he said.

Walsh added that forward schedule data is showing a reduced offering in the coming months, indicating that airlines are balancing high fuel costs and weaker demand.

– Bernama

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المصدر: New Straits Times