Global air travel demand maintained a sustained increase in February 2026, with African carriers recording moderate growth in international passenger traffic despite lingering operational pressures, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The report shows that African airlines posted a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand for the month, reflecting a gradual recovery in cross-border travel across the continent. However, this growth was accompanied by a 6.6 percent rise in capacity, leading to a decline in load factor by 1.3 percentage points to 74.5 percent, suggesting that available seats outpaced demand.
Globally, the aviation sector delivered a stronger performance, with total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rising by 6.1 percent compared to February 2025. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased by 5.6 percent over the same period, pushing the global load factor to 81.4 percent, the highest ever recorded for the month of February.
International travel remained a key driver of growth, with demand climbing 5.9 percent year-on-year, while capacity rose by 5.3 percent. This translated to an improved international load factor of 80.5 percent, up by 0.5 percentage points from the previous year. Domestic markets also recorded solid expansion, with demand increasing by 6.3 percent and capacity closely matching at 6.2 percent, resulting in a stable load factor of 82.8 percent.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, noted that February’s performance reflects strong underlying demand fundamentals that could support a positive outlook for the year. However, he cautioned that ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, continue to introduce uncertainty into the sector.
He explained that rising fuel costs are already exerting pressure on airline operations, especially in an environment characterised by tight capacity and thin profit margins. As a result, airlines have begun adjusting capacity deployment, particularly on routes linked to or passing through the Middle East, as well as regions experiencing fuel supply constraints.
These pressures are also beginning to influence pricing, with airfares trending upwards. Walsh further disclosed that anticipated global capacity expansion for March has been revised downward to 3.3 percent, compared to earlier projections of over 5 percent, reflecting cautious optimism among carriers.
A breakdown of regional performance underscores varying recovery patterns across global markets. Africa accounted for 2.2 percent of total global RPK in 2025, with demand in February 2026 rising by a notable 11.9 percent across overall markets, while capacity expanded by 13.1 percent. This resulted in a slightly lower load factor of 75 percent, down by 0.8 percentage points year-on-year.
Other regions recorded stronger gains. Airlines in Asia-Pacific led with a 9.1 percent increase in demand and a load factor of 85.5 percent, supported by seasonal travel linked to the Lunar New Year. European carriers saw demand rise by 4.9 percent, while North America posted a more modest 2.8 percent growth.
Latin America emerged as a standout performer, recording a 9.2 percent increase in demand and achieving one of the highest load factors globally at 84 percent. In contrast, the Middle East experienced subdued growth, with demand rising by just 0.8 percent amid ongoing disruptions.
On international routes specifically, Latin American airlines led with a 13.5 percent surge in demand, followed by Asia-Pacific carriers at 8.6 percent. European and North American airlines both recorded 5 percent growth, while Middle Eastern carriers lagged at 0.9 percent.
African airlines’ 4.8 percent growth in international demand places the region in the mid-tier of global recovery, highlighting both resilience and structural challenges. The decline in load factor indicates that while airlines are expanding capacity to capture future demand, current passenger volumes are yet to fully absorb the increase.
Domestic markets also played a significant role in sustaining global growth. Overall domestic RPK rose by 6.3 percent, driven largely by strong performances in major markets such as China and Brazil. China recorded a 12.5 percent increase in demand, while Brazil saw a 12.6 percent rise, both reflecting robust internal travel activity.
In contrast, mature markets such as the United States posted more modest growth of 1.5 percent, while India and Japan recorded marginal increases. Australia stood out as the only major domestic market to experience a contraction, with demand declining by 1.1 percent.
