Global air passenger demand fell 3.4 percent in April 2026 compared with the same month last year, as the war in the Middle East sharply reduced traffic for carriers in the region and pushed up fuel costs, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on 28 May. Excluding the Middle East, passenger demand still grew 1.2 percent, indicating that most markets remained in expansion despite the disruption.
IATA said international passenger demand dropped 5.3 percent year-on-year, while domestic demand was flat. Total airline capacity fell 2.9 percent, and the global passenger load factor slipped to 83.1 percent. The association said the steep decline in Middle East traffic was large enough to offset gains elsewhere.
“The 46.6% fall in demand for carriers in the Middle East due to war in the region was so acute that it dragged overall demand down -3.4%,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said. He added that the market remains volatile, with jet fuel prices more than doubling in April and airlines adjusting schedules as they balance weaker demand against higher costs.
Africa was among the better-performing regions in April, with airlines posting 2.8 percent growth in passenger demand and a load factor of 77.7 percent. Asia-Pacific carriers recorded 1.7 percent growth, Europe rose 0.8 percent, and Latin America and the Caribbean posted the strongest expansion at 5.0 percent. North America was broadly flat, with demand slipping 0.3 percent.
Middle Eastern carriers saw demand plunge 46.6 percent, while capacity fell 37.2 percent and the load factor dropped to 70.6 percent. IATA said the downturn reflected the impact of the ongoing war and a still-fragile ceasefire.
In a separate April report, IATA said global air cargo demand increased 4.0 percent year-on-year, supported by strong Asia-linked trade flows and resilient manufacturing activity. African airlines posted 7.7 percent growth in cargo demand, though capacity fell 9.4 percent.
IATA said Africa-Asia trade was one of the strongest cargo routes in April, rising 12.8 percent, while Europe-Asia grew 16.2 percent. By contrast, Gulf-linked routes were heavily disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East.
The association said the air cargo sector is still being supported by dedicated freighters and shifting trade routes, but warned that geopolitical uncertainty, volatile fuel prices and uneven global trade momentum will continue to shape performance in the months ahead.
