IBA, an aviation market intelligence and advisory company, has reported continued growth in global passenger capacity and shifting aircraft delivery patterns in the first half of 2025.
Global Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs), a key measure of passenger capacity, rose by 4.6% compared with the first half of 2024 and stood 9.8% higher than in the same period of 2019, signalling a robust recovery from the pandemic. International travel was the main driver, with international ASKs increasing by 6% year on year. Domestic capacity expanded more modestly by 2% compared with 2024 but remained 16% above 2019 levels, highlighting strong short-haul demand. International capacity also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, up 7%, marking a steady return of long-haul connectivity.
The findings were published in IBA’s Aviation Barometer, which draws on data from its IBA Insight intelligence platform. It also revealed significant trends in aircraft deliveries. Global aircraft output reached 626 units in the first half of 2025, up 13% on 2024 but still 20% below 2018 levels. Airbus delivered 303 commercial aircraft, a fall of 8% year on year, while Boeing delivered 270, representing a 62% surge due largely to increased 737 MAX production.
Narrow-body aircraft continued to dominate deliveries. The A320neo family averaged 39 aircraft per month in the first half of 2025, while the 737 MAX averaged 34 per month, cementing their position as the backbone of global fleets.
China remained a strong growth engine. Passenger ASKs from Chinese operators were 16% above 2019 levels, supported by a total of 2.81 million commercial passenger flights in the first half of 2025, compared with 2.72 million in the same period in 2024 and 2.38 million in 2019.
IBA said the data reflected not only aviation’s ongoing recovery but also structural changes in demand and production patterns globally.
