by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:10 AM ET, Mon June 30, 2025
While total air traffic demand globally rose 5 percent this May with increases in every major market, the United States domestic market saw a 1.7 percent decline over May, 2024, according to new data from the International Air Transportation Association (IATA).
Total air travel demand is measured in RPKs, or revenue passenger kilometers. It increased globally 5 percent from last year, spurred by the 9.4 percent growth in the Asia Pacific region.
International travel demand increased 6.7 percent over May 2024, with capacity up 6.4 percent too. Load factors on international flights reached a record for May, at 83.2 percent. The Asia Pacific region is also seeing great gains in international travel growth, with a 13.3 percent year-over-year increase.
Domestic travel demand is still growing too, just at a slower pace globally than international travel. Domestic demand saw a 2.1 percent increase, with a 2.8 percent increase in capacity.
“Air travel demand growth was uneven in May,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “Globally, the industry reported 5% growth with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4%. The outlier was North America which reported a 0.5% decline, led by a 1.7% fall in the US domestic market.
“Severe disruptions in the Middle East in late June remind us that geopolitical instability remains a challenge in some regions as airlines maintain safe operations with minimal passenger inconvenience. The impact of such instability on oil prices—which remained low throughout May—is also a critical factor to monitor. Importantly, consumer confidence appears to be strong with forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season, giving good reason for optimism.”
North America: The Problem Region
While transatlantic travel from North America increased 2.5 percent, traffic expansion slowed from the Americas in May, with a 1.4 percent increase in international demand.
North America experienced a 0.5 percent decline in travel demand, spurred by a 1.7 percent decline in domestic travel demand in the United States.
This isn’t the first month that has seen North America’s air travel demand face declines while the rest of the world gains: in February, North America saw a 3.2 percent decline in overall travel demand, and this trend continued into March.
April, with spring break and Easter holidays, broke the trend, but it seems the dips in demand, largely spurred by economic uncertainty and international traveler trepidation to visit the United States, is expected to continue throughout the year.
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