African airlines avoided the global aviation slowdown in May 2026, recording an impressive 8.9 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger demand despite an overall 2.2 per cent decline in global air travel.

This is contained in the latest statistics made public by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The data showed that while airlines across the world grappled with the impact of the Middle East conflict, elevated fuel costs and softer demand in some key markets, African carriers continued to expand, posting one of the strongest regional performances globally.

According to the report, African airlines also recorded an 8.3 per cent increase in capacity during the month, while the region’s passenger load factor improved marginally to 73.4 per cent, up 0.4 percentage points from May 2025.

Globally, total passenger demand, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK), declined by 2.2 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2025, according to IATA.

However, excluding the Middle East, global demand would have recorded a 0.7 per cent increase, the association said in the data.

IATA said total airline capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), fell by 2.3 per cent year-on-year, while the global load factor reached a record 83.5 per cent for May.

International passenger demand declined by 1.6 per cent globally, although it would have risen by 3.1 per cent without the impact of disruptions in the Middle East. Capacity on international routes fell by 2.4 per cent, while the load factor improved to 83.7 per cent.

Domestic travel also weakened, with passenger demand contracting by 3.1 per cent compared to May 2025. Capacity declined by 2.1 per cent, resulting in a domestic load factor of 83 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, IATA Director-General, Willie Walsh, attributed the global decline largely to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which continued to disrupt airline operations across the region.

He said air passenger demand fell by 2.2 per cent year-on-year mainly because Middle Eastern carriers recorded a sharp 28.4 per cent decline in traffic, although this represented a significant improvement from the 46.6 per cent drop recorded in April.

Walsh noted that North America and Asia also experienced contractions in demand, driven largely by weaker domestic markets in the United States and China.

Despite these challenges, he said overall global demand remained relatively resilient in the face of high fuel prices and elevated airfares.

According to him, although recent declines in crude oil prices offer some optimism, uncertainty surrounding oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz means airlines are unlikely to enjoy immediate relief in jet fuel costs.

He added that with airlines operating on average profit margins of just two per cent, many carriers would continue to test passenger demand with higher ticket prices aimed at offsetting increased operating costs.

He said: “Air passenger demand was down 2.2 per cent year-on-year in May on the impact of war in the Middle East. The decline was centred on carriers in the Middle East with a 28.4 per cent year-on-year fall.

“That’s a significant improvement on the 46.6 per cent decline recorded for April, a sign of the region’s resilience. Notably, we also saw year-on-year contractions in demand in both North America and Asia, largely related to domestic market conditions in the U.S. and China.”

Among other regions, Latin American airlines recorded the strongest growth globally with a 10.5 per cent increase in passenger demand, followed by African carriers with 8.9 per cent.

European airlines posted a 3.8 per cent rise in demand, supported by a 15 per cent increase in direct passenger traffic to Asia as travellers increasingly opted for non-stop services between the two regions.