Aviation statistics: traffic, capacity, profits, and SAF in 2024

Global traffic rebounds and demand mix shifts

In the Aviation sector, Passenger traffic sustained strong momentum through 2024 as airlines rebuilt networks and consumers treated air travel as a staple of post‑pandemic lifestyles. Global demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), rose year over year and exceeded 2019 levels in most regions, while load factors hovered near historic highs. According to IATA’s monthly passenger market analysis, industry-wide load factors in peak months were in the low‑to‑mid‑80s, a sign of tight capacity relative to demand and disciplined scheduling by carriers according to IATA’s passenger market analysis.

The regional picture remained uneven but constructive. Asia‑Pacific’s catch‑up continued as border openings and intra‑regional tourism lifted international traffic, while North American domestic markets matured after two years of aggressive capacity restoration. Europe reached close to full recovery in flight volumes, supported by resilient leisure travel and a stabilized corporate segment. In fact, flights across the continent were roughly at the high‑90s percent of 2019 activity in 2024, with a full return and modest growth expected in 2025 based on EUROCONTROL’s aviation outlook.

Demand mix is also evolving. Premium‑economy adoption and upselling into flexible fares expanded as corporations recalibrated travel policies, while long‑haul leisure (“VFR” and premium leisure) continued to underpin transatlantic and transpacific yields. Airlines leaned on data‑driven merchandising to nudge travelers into higher fare families, helping maintain strong unit revenues even as capacity came back.

Capacity, operations, and efficiency metrics

Airlines added seats carefully in 2024, prioritizing routes and day‑of‑week patterns that maximized aircraft utilization. Available seat kilometers (ASKs) climbed more slowly than RPKs in many markets, which supported higher load factors and helped mitigate unit revenue pressure. On‑time performance improved through the summer versus prior years as staffing stabilized among airlines, airports, and air traffic control, and as schedule buffers were recalibrated to minimize missed connections.

Operational statistics reflected these adjustments: cancellations trended lower year over year in the second half, while average block times normalized with fewer tactical delays. Low‑cost carriers expanded intra‑Europe and short‑haul Asia aggressively, while U.S. majors and Middle East hubs focused on long‑haul connectivity and premium cabin density. Capacity management remained key to preserving margins where demand was most price‑sensitive.

Airports reported robust throughput and sustained non‑aeronautical revenue. Mega‑hubs from Atlanta and Dallas to Dubai and Heathrow registered near‑record passenger counts on peak days, supported by improved security throughput and baggage handling modernization. For airport operators, retail and F&B per‑passenger spend benefited from higher dwell times and better digital wayfinding.

Fleet, backlogs, and supply chain constraints

Behind the strong demand picture sits a capacity ceiling shaped by aircraft availability. Airbus and Boeing now carry a combined backlog well above 13,000 aircraft, locking in delivery slots deep into the decade. Over a 20‑year horizon, Boeing projects demand for roughly 42,000 new airplanes, with the global fleet nearly doubling as airlines upgauge narrow‑bodies and expand efficient wide‑body fleets according to Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook.

Supply chains—especially engines, castings, interiors, and avionics—remained a binding constraint in 2024, elongating maintenance turnarounds and slowing factory ramp‑ups. Engine inspection campaigns and parts shortages temporarily grounded hundreds of aircraft across multiple fleets, forcing carriers to trim schedules, wet‑lease capacity, or redeploy equipment to high‑yield routes. That tension between demand strength and delivery pace kept lease rates firm and pushed airlines to sweat assets harder, lifting utilization metrics.

Network planning also shifted toward larger narrow‑bodies and higher‑density configurations, amplifying seat growth without proportionate increases in flight counts. This upgauging strategy improved per‑flight economics and slot productivity at constrained airports, but it also heightened dependency on a small number of high‑capacity types—raising operational risk when specific components bottleneck.

Profitability, cargo tailwinds, and the sustainability pivot

At the industry level, profitability improved on the back of strong passenger yields, ancillary revenue growth, and disciplined cost control, even as fuel prices remained volatile. IATA’s mid‑year outlook pointed to global net profits in the tens of billions for 2024, with North American carriers leading margins and several European and Asia‑Pacific carriers returning to or sustaining profitability. Load‑factor strength and premium‑cabin sales helped offset softer economy yields in selected markets.

Cargo provided a steady tailwind. E‑commerce volumes and modal shifts from ocean to air supported mid‑single‑digit growth in cargo tonne‑kilometers (CTKs) versus 2023, while freight yields stabilized after the post‑pandemic normalization. The sector’s resilience was evident in Asia‑Pacific gateways and integrator networks, where capacity discipline met rising demand as tracked in IATA’s air cargo analysis.

On sustainability, airlines advanced decarbonization plans but the statistics underscore a long runway ahead. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply is expected to grow rapidly but remains a fraction of total jet fuel consumption. Industry expectations pointed to SAF production potentially tripling in 2024 to around 1.5 million tonnes—still well below 1% of global demand—underscoring the need for policy clarity, offtake agreements, and investment in feedstocks and refineries according to an IATA update on SAF production. Carriers are scaling book‑and‑claim platforms and long‑term offtakes, but widespread adoption will hinge on closing price gaps and ensuring reliable supply.