KUALA LUMPUR,, Global commercial air passenger traffic for the aviation industry, measured in revenue passenger-kilometres (RPK), remained on its steady growth trend in June 2024, rising 9.1 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y). In a statement today, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 8.5 per cent y-o-y, while June load factor was 85 per cent (+0.5 percentage points (ppt) compared to June 2023). 'International demand rose 12.3 per cent compared to June 2023. Capacity was up 12.7 per cent y-o-y, and the load factor improved to 85 per cent (-0.3 ppt on June 2023). 'Domestic demand rose 4.3 per cent compared to June 2023. Capacity was up 2.1 per cent y-o-y, and the load factor was 85 per cent (+1.7 ppt compared to June 2023),' it said. IATA director-general Willie Walsh said demand grew across all regions as the peak Northern summer travel season began in June. 'With overall capacity growth lagging demand, we saw a very stron g average load factor of 85 per cent achieved in both domestic and international operations. 'Operating with such high load factors is both good and challenging,' he said. Walsh said that it makes it even more important for all the stakeholders to operate with equal levels of efficiency to minimise delays and get travellers to their destinations on schedule. As the Olympic Games unfold in Paris, he said there is pride across the aviation industry for its continuing role in supporting the Olympic story by bringing many of the athletes, fans, and officials together. In the report, IATA said Asia Pacific airlines continued to be the main contributors to the industry's traffic growth in June, as observed in the past years. It said growth rates were decreasing across the industry as the pandemic and recovery periods gave way to more conservative figures. 'Particularly, for the Asia Pacific the transition is starker due to traffic surges from low levels in 2023, having a knock-on effect on the industry total passenger traffic growth due to the region's weight in the industry-wide figures,' it added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency