The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2016 showing demand rose 6.3% compared to 2015 (or 6.0% if adjusted for the leap year). This strong performance was well ahead of the ten-year average annual growth rate of 5.5%. Capacity rose 6.2% (unadjusted) compared to 2015, pushing the load factor up 0.1 points to a record full-year average high of 80.5%. A particularly strong performance was reported for December with an 8.8% rise in demand outstripping 6.6% capacity growth.
Asia Pacific carriers recorded a demand increase of 8.3% compared to 2015, which was the second-fastest increase among the regions. Capacity rose 7.7%, pushing up the load factor 0.4 percentage points to 78.6%.
European carriers’ international traffic climbed 4.8% in 2016. Capacity rose 5.0% and despite a decline of 0.1 points to 82.8%, the load factor remains the highest among the regions.
North American airlines saw demand rise 2.6% in 2016. Most of the growth occurred in the second quarter, and traffic has been strongest on Pacific routes. The North Atlantic, by contrast, has been fairly flat. Capacity rose 3.3%, reducing the load factor by 0.5 points to 81.3%.
Middle East carriers had the strongest regional annual traffic growth for the fifth year in a row. RPKs expanded 11.8%, consolidating the region’s position as the third-largest market for international passengers. Capacity growth (13.7%) continued to outstrip demand, with the result that the load factor fell 1.3 points to 74.7%.
Latin American airlines’ traffic rose 7.4% in 2016. Capacity rose 4.8% and load factor strengthened by 1.9 points to 81.3%. International traffic from Latin America remains very healthy despite some economic and political uncertainty in the region’s largest market, Brazil.
African airlines had their best growth performance since 2012, up 7.4%. Growth is being underpinned by strong demand on routes to/from Asia and the Middle East. Capacity exactly matched demand, with the result that the load factor remained flat at 67.7%.
AviTrader sponsorship ad
Another strong year for air travel demand in 2016
Share this Article
Wednesday April 1, 2026
Delta Air Lines (Delta) will introduce Amazon Leo across hundreds of its aircraft, beginning with an initial rollout on 500 planes from 2028, while working with Amazon to expand its popular Delta Sync Wi-Fi and seatback experiences—enhancing personalisation ... Read More »
Wednesday April 1, 2026
Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG) has delivered the first Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft to Compagnie Nationale Royal Air Maroc (Royal Air Maroc). The aircraft, powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines, marks the first of six 737-8 MAX aircraft to be placed on lease with the ... Read More »
Wednesday April 1, 2026
StandardAero has appointed Giovanni Spitale as President of its Business Aviation segment with immediate effect. He succeeds Anthony (Tony) Brancato III, who is retiring after nearly a decade in leadership roles at StandardAero and more than 40 years in the av... Read More »
Wednesday April 1, 2026
ACC Aviation has successfully remarketed six CF34-8C engines and associated Life-Limited Parts (LLPs) on behalf of OÜ Transpordi Varahaldus (TVH), Estonia’s state-owned transport asset management company. Following the repossession of the assets from former... Read More »
Wednesday April 1, 2026
Star Alliance has officially welcomed ITA Airways as its newest member, marking the completion of the Italian carrier’s integration into the world’s largest airline alliance. ITA Airways celebrated its entry with a ceremony at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge i... Read More »
Wednesday April 1, 2026
HALO AirFinance (HALO), a joint venture between GA Telesis (GAT) and Tokyo Century Corporation (TC), has completed a senior term loan for an entity owned and managed by Crestone Air Partners. The financing is secured by a mature Boeing 737-800 aircraft operate... Read More »
Tuesday March 31, 2026
Turboprop lessor Abelo has confirmed three additional ATR 72-600 options from its agreement signed at the Dubai Airshow in 2023. With these options now exercised, Abelo’s total firm orders stand at 36 aircraft, with a further nine options and purchase rights... Read More »
Tuesday March 31, 2026
Lufthansa Technik has successfully completed its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin modification at its European Centre of Excellence for wide-body base maintenance services in Malta. This milestone marks a significant step in the expansion of Lufthansa Technik... Read More »
Tuesday March 31, 2026
dnata, the global air and travel services provider, has completed the integration of its Italian ground handling business into its global organisation, with all operations now conducted under the dnata brand. This milestone follows dnata’s full acquisition o... Read More »
Tuesday March 31, 2026
AerFin, the aviation asset specialist that buys, sells, leases and repairs aircraft, engines and parts, has acquired a fourth B777-300ER previously operated by Japan Airlines, continuing its investment in the widely used wide-body platform. The aircraft has re... Read More »
Tuesday March 31, 2026
Vertical Aerospace (Vertical), a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, has signed an agreement in principle as part of a financing package totalling up to US$850 million. The comprehensive package provides the company with a str... Read More »
Tuesday March 31, 2026
The Board of Directors of Air Canada has announced that Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, following nearly two decades of dedicated leadership that has strengthened the airline’s position both domestically and internationa... Read More »
Monday March 30, 2026
François Lepot, Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aero Boosters, has announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Safran Booster Components, located in Welkenraedt, Wallonia, Belgium. The announcement, made in the presence of Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice-Presiden... Read More »
Monday March 30, 2026
FIGEAC AÉRO, an established partner to major aerospace manufacturers, has announced the signing of new agreements for the production in Mexico of mechanical components for the assembly of passenger seats, electrical harnesses and landing gear, to be fitted to... Read More »
Monday March 30, 2026
AAR CORP. has reported financial results for the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year 2026, ended February 28, 2026, with consolidated sales rising 25% to US$845.1 million from US$678.2 million a year earlier. Sales to commercial customers increased 27% (US$130 m... Read More »
Monday March 30, 2026
IBA, the aviation intelligence and advisory company, has revealed that widespread airspace closures across the Middle East since February 28, 2026, have resulted in a 59% reduction in all flights operating to, from, and within the region. This is based on data... Read More »
Monday March 30, 2026
Finnair has signed letters of intent (LOIs) to lease two Embraer E190-E1 aircraft and two ATR 72-600 aircraft. The aircraft will join the fleet of Finnair’s partner Norra by summer and early autumn 2026. Norra operates regional flights for Finnair with twelv... Read More »
Monday March 30, 2026
Philippine Airlines and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) have renewed and extended their long-term maintenance agreement covering the airline’s GE90 engines, reinforcing one of the longest-standing GE90 partnerships i... Read More »
Friday March 27, 2026
Lufthansa Technik Component Services (LTCS) has officially opened its new state-of-the-art facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. The 25,000 ft² building marks the first major milestone in a two-phase expansion programme and introduces 90 new workstations, an upgr... Read More »
Friday March 27, 2026
SAS and the Norwegian Armed Forces have renewed their long-standing Medevac partnership through to 2027, reinforcing a civil–military collaboration that has become a critical component of Europe’s medical evacuation capability. The extension, approved by t... Read More »
Aviation News Categories
2026 MEDIA KIT
Tamar Jorssen
tamar.jorssen@avitrader.com
Phone: +1 (778) 213 8543
Malte Tamm
malte.tamm@avitrader.com
Phone: +49 (0)162 8263049