Global air travel surpasses pre-pandemic levels in 2024 - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Thanks to a 10.4% year-on-year surge, global passenger demand exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 3.8% in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) data released on Thursday.

The aviation industry also saw its highest-ever load factor for the year, reaching 83.5%.

Capacity expanded by 8.7% at an annualized pace, showcasing airlines’ ability to meet growing passenger demand while achieving operational efficiency.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh highlighted the strong appetite for travel, underscoring the industry's resilience and recovery.


"Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more," he said.

International travel saw remarkable growth, with demand increasing by 13.6% compared to the previous year. Domestic travel also showed solid annual gains, with 5.7%.

Walsh pointed to critical challenges for the sector, underlining the importance of safety, particularly following Wednesday’s mid-air collision between a passenger plane and an army helicopter near Washington, and called for renewed focus on sustainable practices.

Despite record investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) last year, its availability remains limited, meeting less than 0.5% of the industry’s needs, he said.


"Governments could fortify their national energy security and unblock this problem by prioritizing renewable fuel production from which SAF is derived," Walsh said.

Looking ahead, IATA projects continued demand growth in 2025, with an estimated 8% increase, aligning with historical trends.

In a separate statement on Wednesday, the IATA said global demand for air freight, measured in cargo ton-kilometers, surged 11.3% in 2024.

Image Credit: © AA