Kuala Lampur:Global air passenger demand in August 2026, measured by revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), decreased by 0.8 percent compared to August 2025, primarily due to disruptions affecting carriers in West Asia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, IATA's senior vice-president for sustainability and chief economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, reported that carriers in West Asia experienced a 14.6 percent decline in demand year-on-year, marking a reversal in the positive trend observed earlier. Excluding West Asia, global air travel demand still grew by 0.6 percent year-on-year in August, though at half the pace of July.

IATA noted that global connectivity was generally weaker in August, with exceptions such as domestic flights within China. The impact of higher energy prices on travelers' purchasing power and geopolitical instability could further influence travel budgets in the coming months. However, forward schedules for October indicate a cautious optimism, with a projected 2.0 percent growth in available seats.

The total capacity measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) rose by 0.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.1 percent, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points from August 2025. International passenger markets saw a 0.9 percent decline in RPK compared to August 2025, with demand excluding West Asia growing by 1.3 percent year-on-year. Capacity remained flat year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.0 percent, declining by 0.8 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Domestic demand fell by 0.5 percent year-on-year, while capacity increased by 0.7 percent. The load factor was 85.3 percent, a reduction of 1.1 percentage points from August 2025. Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 0.1 percent increase in passenger demand, despite a 0.9 percent decline in capacity year-on-year, resulting in an 85.6 percent load factor, up by 0.7 percentage points from the previous year.

Traffic within Asia declined by 2.0 percent, with capacity dropping for the fourth consecutive month. Conversely, traffic on the Asia-North America corridor increased by 2.5 percent. IATA represents over 370 airlines, accounting for approximately 85 percent of global air traffic.