European air travel witnessed a significant upswing in July 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Passenger demand in the region jumped by 7.2% compared to the same month in 2023, showcasing a robust recovery trajectory. While this growth slightly trailed the global average of 8%, it was primarily attributed to the strong rebound in the Asia Pacific region.
In terms of capacity, European airlines saw a 7% increase in available seat kilometres (ASKs), closely mirroring the global increase of 7.4%. Notably, the demand for international flights in Europe surpassed the capacity growth, with an 8.3% rise compared to an 8.1% increase in available seats. This led to a modest improvement in the load factor, which climbed by 0.2 percentage points to 87.5%.
Despite the significant disruptions caused by the CrowdStrike IT incident in mid-July, which resulted in thousands of flight cancellations worldwide, IATA observed no substantial negative impact on demand during the month. This resilience underscores the aviation sector’s robust recovery trajectory and its ability to adapt to challenges, maintaining strong consumer confidence and the normalization of international travel post-pandemic.
