Load factors for January were 82%, a 0,2 percentage point increase compared with January 2025, a record high for January, according to IATA’s passenger statistics for January 2026.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 3,8%, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 3,5% year-on-year.
International demand rose 5,9% compared with January 2025 and capacity was up 5,8%. The load factor was 82,5%, a 0,1 percentage point increase compared with January 2025.
January demand was skewed by a shift in the Lunar New Year from January in 2025 to February in 2026. As a result, the year-on-year comparison makes January 2026 demand appear slightly weaker.
African airlines continued to show growth in 2026 with the highest increase in demand and capacity compared to other regions. Demand saw an 11,7% year-on-year increase while capacity was up 10,1%. The load factor was still the lowest at 77,4% a 1,1 percentage point increase compared to January 2025.
“The timing of the Lunar New Year partly explains the slightly slower expansion in January, but the fundamentals are in place for demand to continue strong growth in 2026. Schedule data, for example, indicate a 5,2% increase in global seat capacity by March, which would be the fastest expansion since April 2024. Recent events have introduced some uncertainty into the evolution of traffic and fuel costs,” said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.
