Global air passenger traffic showed a significant increase in April 2025, according to the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total demand increased by 8% year-on-year, while international passenger traffic recorded an even sharper increase, reaching 10.8%, outpacing the increase in available capacity (8.5%) and leading to high occupancy rates for the season.
International demand is strong, but concerns about the slowdown in the US
IATA Director General Willie Walsh described April as a “positive month for travel”, with particular emphasis on strengthening international demand and achieving a “record occupancy rate for the month”. However, despite the overall positive picture, the US domestic market continues to be a weak link, with domestic passenger traffic falling for the third consecutive month.
According to IATA, demand growth for North American airlines reached 5.4% year-on-year, but most of this growth came from international flights and failed to offset the decline in domestic activity in the US.
Easter seasonality affects comparisons
IATA notes that year-on-year comparisons may be somewhat misleading, as this year’s Easter fell in April, while last year it fell in March, increasing the concentration of leisure travel this year in that month. This artificially inflates growth rates, without necessarily reflecting a lasting trend.
Premium cabin sales down – resilience from Europe
Of particular interest are the figures for premium seats (first and business), which overall fell 4.2% year-on-year in April, continuing the negative trend that had already begun in March. In fact, in some regions this decline was even steeper. In North America, the decline in premium passenger traffic exceeded 25% compared to last April.
In contrast, European airlines, which maintain the largest market share in the premium international market, showed a small but significant increase of 1.4% in first and business class seat sales. This development reflects the relative resilience of European business travel, even in an environment of uncertain economic prospects.
Significant growth in economy seats
Despite the pressures in the premium cabin, economy and premium economy seats experienced strong growth, with a 12.2% increase in international markets, confirming the momentum of leisure and value-for-money travel. These seats now represent over 90% of international passenger traffic, highlighting the market shift towards more affordable options.
Europe maintains a positive trajectory
The European market recorded an 8.3% annual increase in demand in April, with available capacity increasing by 6.6%. This development shows a strong recovery for European airlines, which are benefiting from the strengthening of international travel, especially to popular leisure and business destinations.
Uncertainty in the US and the premium market – opportunities in Europe
While the global picture remains positive, IATA warns of signs of fragile confidence from both consumers and businesses, which is reflected mainly in the weakening demand for premium cabins and the stagnation of domestic travel in the US. These trends may affect the decisions of airlines and tourism companies in the coming months.
At the same time, Europe seems to maintain advantages in both leisure and business travel, with its airlines moving on an upward trajectory. This development opens up further opportunities for European tourism destinations, especially in view of the summer season, as international demand returns at a steady pace.
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