The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a notable decrease in passenger demand for African airlines in July 2024, in contrast to other regions where demand saw an increase. This decline in African airlines’ passenger numbers comes amid a generally positive trend for the global aviation industry.
Despite the monthly drop in passenger demand, IATA highlighted that African carriers experienced a 7.4% year-on-year increase in overall demand for 2024. Additionally, these airlines saw a 6.7% rise in capacity over the same period. The load factor—an indicator of how full flights are—among African airlines increased to 74.3% in July 2024.
Globally, the aviation sector showed strong performance in July. IATA reported an 8% increase in overall passenger demand compared to July 2023. The total capacity available to passengers rose by 7.4% year-on-year. The load factor for the global industry reached 86% for July. This positive trend was slightly marred by a CrowdStrike IT outage on July 19, which did not have a significant adverse impact on demand.
Internationally, demand surged by 10.1% compared to the previous year, with capacity increasing by 10.5%. However, the load factor for international flights decreased slightly to 85.9%.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, commented on the industry’s performance, stating, “July was another positive month for the aviation sector. Passenger demand hit an all-time high across most regions, except Africa. This demonstrates the critical role air travel plays in global connectivity, especially as the peak summer season concludes. The ongoing shift from leisure to business travel highlights the diverse functions of aviation—reuniting families, enabling exploration, and supporting commerce.”
Walsh also pointed out the challenges facing the industry, noting that while load factors are at near maximum capacity, persistent supply chain bottlenecks are making it difficult to deploy the necessary capacity to meet travel demand. He urged manufacturers and suppliers to address these issues promptly to ensure that air travel remains accessible and affordable for everyone who relies on it.
In summary, while African airlines are currently experiencing a dip in passenger demand, the global aviation industry overall continues to show strong performance and resilience, despite facing logistical and operational challenges.
