Asia-Pacific airlines posted a 10.9 per cent rise in full year international traffic last year compared to 2024 but Australia had the region’s lowest domestic load factor, at 81.2 per cent, new data released by the International Air Transport Association shows.
In comparison, the global passenger load factor hit 83.6 per cent last year, a record high for full-year traffic, with December 2025 reaching 83.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, global air travel grew overall by 5.3 per cent with international demand growing by 7.1 per cent and domestic by 2.4 per cent.
Capacity in Asia-Pacific rose 10.2% and the load factor rose 0.5 ppt to 84.4%. The region finished 2025 with the fastest growth rate and highest load factor of any region. December 2025 traffic rose 7.5% compared to December 2024.
Domestic full-year demand reached record highs for passenger numbers and load factors. Growth slowed compared to the strong rebound in 2024. The standout performer for 2025 Domestic RPK was Brazil, which increased 11.1 per cent over 2024. The United States saw its domestic market contract by -0.6 per cent.
The sharpest increase in load factor was in Japan (+3.4 ppt), in contrast to the US, which registered the heaviest fall (-1.9 ppt). Although domestic Indian travel also had a sharp (-1.2 ppt) fall in load factor, it still registered the highest load factor overall (85.2 per cent). Australia had the lowest load factor, but this was still a relatively healthy 81.2 per cent.
“This returns industry growth to align with historical growth patterns after the robust post-COVID rebound,” IATA’s director general Willie Walsh said. “The strong and continuous increase in demand puts into sharp focus two key challenges – decarbonisation and supply chain.
“The first, decarbonisation, will protect future long-term growth. Governments whose economies grow because of aviation and whose citizens thirst for connectivity need to provide the supportive fiscal policy framework to rapidly accelerate progress – particularly for the energy sector to grow Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
The second, supply chain challenges, was the biggest headache for airlines in 2025, he said.
“People clearly wanted to travel more, but airlines were continually disappointed with unreliable delivery schedules for new aircraft and engines, maintenance capacity constraints, and resultant cost increases that are estimated to exceed $11 billion.” he added.
“Airlines scrambled to accommodate the demand by keeping aircraft in service longer and filling more seats on every flight. With load factors just shy of 84 per cent, it’s clear that these measures were an effective band aid, but we need a real solution.
“It’s vital that 2025 proves to be the nadir of the supply chain crisis, and 2026 marks a rebound. Every new aircraft means a quieter, cleaner fleet, with more capacity and flight options than at any previous point in history, which is what airlines and their customers want to see.”
