Global air passenger demand slowed sharply in April 2026, mainly because of the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to new data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, fell 3.4 percent compared with April 2025. Airline capacity, measured in available seat kilometers, also dropped 2.9 percent year-on-year. The global load factor stood at 83.1 percent, slightly lower than the same period last year.
IATA said the fall was largely driven by a major collapse in travel demand for Middle Eastern airlines. Without the Middle East region, global passenger demand would have grown by 1.2 percent in April.
International travel was also affected. Passenger traffic on international routes fell 5.3 percent year-on-year, while capacity declined 5.1 percent. However, if Middle Eastern carriers are excluded, international demand actually increased by 1.9 percent.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said the 46.6 percent fall in demand for Middle Eastern carriers was so severe that it pulled overall global demand down. He added that the aviation sector remains highly volatile, especially as jet fuel prices more than doubled in April, putting upward pressure on airfares.
Walsh also said forward schedule data shows airlines are already cutting planned services in the coming months as they respond to weaker demand and higher fuel costs.
Middle Eastern airlines saw the worst decline among all regions. Passenger demand plunged 48.1 percent year-on-year in April, while capacity fell 38.4 percent. Load factor dropped to 70.1 percent, down 13.1 percentage points from a year earlier.
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IATA said air traffic in the region continued to suffer because of the Iran war, although the pace of decline eased slightly after an uneasy ceasefire came into effect.
