Middle East war leads to 3.4 pc fall in global air passenger demand in April
New Delhi, May 29
Global air passenger demand fell 3.4 per cent year-on-year in April 2026 -- marking a sharp slowdown primarily driven by the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association on Friday.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), declined 3.4 per cent compared to April 2025, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), dropped 2.9 per cent.
Global load factor stood at 83.1 per cent, down 0.4 percentage points from the year-ago period.
IATA said the downturn was largely caused by a steep collapse in travel demand for Middle Eastern carriers.
Excluding the Middle East region, global passenger demand would have recorded a 1.2 per cent increase during the month.
"Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was down 3.4 per cent compared to April 2025," IATA said.
"Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 2.9 per cent year-on-year. The load factor was 83.1 per cent (-0.4 ppt compared to April 2025)," it added.
International passenger traffic fell 5.3 per cent year-on-year in April, with capacity declining 5.1 per cent.
However, excluding Middle Eastern airlines, international demand grew 1.9 per cent.
"The 46.6 per cent 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 per cent. The situation for air transport remains highly volatile. The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
Walsh added that forward schedule data indicates airlines are reducing planned services in the coming months as they respond to weaker demand and rising fuel costs.
Middle Eastern airlines recorded the steepest decline among all regions, with passenger demand plunging 48.1 per cent year-on-year in April.
Capacity fell 38.4 per cent, while load factor dropped sharply to 70.1 per cent, down 13.1 percentage points from a year earlier.
IATA said traffic in the region continued to be affected by the Iran war, although the pace of decline moderated slightly after an uneasy ceasefire came into effect.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sad to see the Middle East conflict causing such disruption. For Indians working in Gulf countries, this means fewer flights and higher fares. My cousin in Dubai was planning to visit for Diwali, but now he's not sure. Hope peace returns soon. 🙏
A 48% drop for Middle Eastern carriers is staggering. But honestly, India should see this as an opportunity to boost its own aviation sector. Our domestic tourism could get a shot in the arm if people choose to travel within the country instead. Make in India for flights too!
The load factor drop to 70.1% shows how many flights are flying empty in the Middle East. This is a humanitarian crisis first, but the economic fallout is real. Indian airlines must be careful about overcapacity now.
Interesting that excluding the Middle East, global demand actually grew 1.2%. This shows the rest of the world is still flying. For India, with our strong ties to Southeast Asia and Europe, we shouldn't panic. Just need to watch fuel prices carefully.
IATA's data is clear - the war is the culprit. But I wish Indian media would focus more on how this affects common people. My friend's travel agency in Mumbai says bookings to Dubai are down 60%. It's not just numbers, it's livelihoods.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.