# Air Passenger Market Analysis February 2026

**Publisher:** IATA  
**Published:** n/a  
**Category:** Global institutions & policy  
**Type:** Report  
**Access:** Free PDF  
**Official source:** https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/reports/air-passenger-market-analysis-february-2026  
**Canonical:** https://tourismintel.ai/reports/iata-air-passenger-market-analysis-february-2026

## At a glance
- Industry-wide Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) grew 6.1% year-on-year in February, according to IATA.
- Passenger Load Factor reached 81.4% in February, the highest on record for that month, according to the report.
- Lunar New Year timing supported traffic surge; Asia Pacific carriers showed stronger performance than January.
- Middle Eastern carriers experienced moderated traffic due to Ramadan and geopolitical uncertainties, the report notes.
- International traffic increased across all regions; Latin American, Caribbean, and Asia Pacific carriers led expansions.

## What the report covers
IATA's monthly Air Passenger Market Analysis tracks global airline traffic using Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK), Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), and Passenger Load Factor (PLF) metrics. The February 2026 report examines year-on-year and year-to-date performance across domestic and international segments, broken down by regional carrier groups. It assesses how seasonal factors—particularly Lunar New Year and Ramadan—influenced demand patterns and capacity deployment across markets.

## Key findings
Industry-wide RPK expanded 6.1% year-on-year in February 2026, with international traffic contributing 62.8% of the global market share. The report attributes this growth partly to Lunar New Year timing, which benefited Asia Pacific carriers. International RPK grew 5.9% annually, while domestic traffic expanded 6.3%, indicating stronger demand in home markets during the festive period.

Passenger Load Factor reached 81.4% in February, described by the report as the highest on record for that month. Year-to-date PLF stood at 81.7%, up 0.3 percentage points, reflecting improved capacity utilisation across the industry. International routes achieved 80.5% PLF, while domestic services reached 82.8%, according to the data presented.

Asia Pacific airlines demonstrated significantly better performance in February compared to January, the report states, driven by Lunar New Year travel demand. Conversely, Middle Eastern carriers saw moderated traffic as Ramadan dampened bookings and geopolitical uncertainties in the lead-up to the Iran conflict impacted confidence. The report notes that domestic traffic strengthened primarily due to high growth in the Chinese domestic market.

Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) grew 5.6% year-on-year in February, slightly below RPK growth, indicating airlines optimised capacity deployment. Year-to-date ASK expanded 4.6%, also trailing RPK gains. Global scheduled seats moderated in March, according to the report, suggesting a potential shift in capacity planning post-February surge.

## Key numbers
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Industry-wide Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) year-on-year growth | 6.1% | February 2026 observed performance |
| Passenger Load Factor (PLF) in February | 81.4% | Described as the highest on record for the month of February |
| Year-to-date RPK growth (through February) | 5.0% | Cumulative year-on-year comparison |
| Year-to-date PLF level | 81.7% | Cumulative average through February 2026 |
| International traffic share of global market | 62.8% | February 2026 |
| Domestic traffic share of global market | 37.2% | February 2026 |
| Domestic RPK year-on-year growth | 6.3% | February 2026 observed |
| International RPK year-on-year growth | 5.9% | February 2026 observed |

## Why it matters
**DMOs & destinations** — Lunar New Year drove significant traffic to Asia Pacific, validating seasonal marketing investments in this period. The 6.1% RPK growth signals sustained demand recovery. DMOs should monitor regional carrier capacity planning and geopolitical impacts on Middle Eastern routes, which influence connecting traffic to long-haul destinations.

**Hotels & hospitality** — Record PLF of 81.4% indicates strong occupancy demand, particularly in Asia Pacific during February. Domestic strength in China suggests robust leisure travel. However, Middle Eastern softness signals reduced connecting traffic. Hotels should align revenue management with seasonal peaks and monitor how geopolitical events influence multi-night stay patterns.

**Travel tech & distribution** — Rising PLF and RPK growth reflect capacity constraints and strong demand, driving booking urgency and price optimization opportunities. Global seat capacity moderated in March, creating short-term inventory tightness. Platforms should enhance dynamic pricing and alert systems to capture demand shifts as regional route networks adjust post-seasonal peaks.

## Methodology and limits
IATA's Air Passenger Market Analysis draws on official airline traffic data reported by carriers across its membership. The report tracks three core metrics: Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK), which measure actual passenger distance flown; Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), which measure total capacity; and Passenger Load Factor (PLF), which derives from RPK/ASK ratios. February 2026 figures represent observed year-on-year and year-to-date performance; no forecasts are presented. The publicly available summary provided does not disclose sample size, data collection methodology, or reporting lag.

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© IATA for the original report. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel (https://tourismintel.ai). Read the original: https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/reports/air-passenger-market-analysis-february-2026