Global air passenger demand fell by 0.5% in September 2026 compared with the same month last year, as weakness in the Middle East and North America offset growth in other regions, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The decline comes as IATA's 2026 Global Passenger Survey points to changing passenger expectations, with increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for travel planning and growing interest in biometric identification and digital passports. However, immigration requirements remain a barrier for many travellers.
Regional demand presents a mixed picture
Africa recorded the strongest growth in total passenger demand among the regions in September, with revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) increasing by 5.0% year on year. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), rose 7.7%, while the passenger load factor fell 1.9 percentage points to 73.5%.
Latin America and the Caribbean also grew, with demand up 4.3% and capacity up 5.1%. Asia-Pacific demand rose by 0.5%, while Europe recorded a 0.3% increase.
By contrast, passenger demand in the Middle East fell by 8.0%, while North America recorded a 1.6% decline.
International demand increased by 0.4% globally, with capacity up 0.5%. African airlines recorded an 8.0% increase in international demand, alongside an 8.8% rise in capacity. Latin American carriers reported 8.2% growth in international demand, while European airlines recorded a 1.8% increase.
Middle Eastern carriers saw international demand fall by 7.5%, while North American carriers reported no year-on-year change.
Domestic passenger demand declined by 2.2% globally. The United States recorded a 2.7% contraction, while India's domestic market fell by 8.3%, its steepest decline of the year.
"Air traffic demand fell 0.5% in September, reflecting weaknesses in the Middle East and North America. Nevertheless, this was an improvement from August, with a welcome return to growth in most international markets," said Marie Owens Thomsen, Iata's senior vice-president of sustainability and chief economist.
She said geopolitical uncertainty and volatile fuel prices were expected to continue influencing market conditions. Global scheduled seat capacity is expected to remain above 2025 levels in October and November, although growth rates remain weak and uneven across regions.
Biometrics and digital passports gain traction
Iata's 2026 Global Passenger Survey found that 58% of travellers had experienced biometric identification at some point during their airport journey in the previous 12 months, up from 50% in 2025. Of those who had used biometrics, 87% said they were satisfied with the experience.
Willingness to share biometric information is also high, with 78% of respondents saying they would do so if it meant avoiding repeated passport or boarding-pass checks at airport checkpoints. Among these passengers, 75% preferred to register once in advance and be recognised automatically throughout their airport journey.
Interest in digital passports is similarly strong. Some 84% of respondents were interested in using a digital passport for online check-in instead of a physical passport, while 82% were interested in sharing one with an airline at booking to access more personalised services.
Regional findings show differences in adoption and interest. North America recorded the highest use of biometrics, at 63%, while Africa was below the global average at 49%. However, 82% of African respondents were willing to share biometric information for airport processes, and 87% were interested in using a digital passport for online check-in.
Trust remains important to wider adoption. Data breaches were the leading concern among passengers, cited by 59% of respondents, followed by information being shared with other organisations (49%) and a lack of clarity about how personal information is handled (41%).
AI becomes part of travel planning
Almost half of respondents globally (49%) said they had used AI for travel planning.
Searching for flights to a specific destination was the most common application, cited by 21% of passengers, followed by finding the cheapest flights (19%) and discovering travel inspiration (17%).
Adoption varied across regions. The Middle East recorded the highest use of AI for travel planning at 72%, followed by Asia-Pacific at 57% and Africa at 52%. Europe had the lowest reported use, at 35%.
Nick Careen, Iata's senior vice-president of operations, safety and security, said airlines needed to adapt their digital offerings as passengers increasingly use AI to research and plan journeys.
"People are using AI to plan their travel. It's important for airlines not only to ensure their offerings show up in AI, but also to develop convenient links to convert an AI conversation into a real booking," said Careen.
Immigration requirements remain a travel barrier
Despite growing interest in digital travel solutions, immigration requirements continue to discourage passengers from visiting destinations.
The survey found that 43% of respondents had been discouraged from visiting a destination because of immigration requirements, up from 33% in 2025. Among those deterred, 53% said the process was too complex, while privacy and cost were each cited by 17%.
The proportion was higher among African respondents, at 52%, compared with 35% in North America. Complexity, followed by cost, was the main concern among African travellers deterred by entry requirements.
Passengers also expressed interest in completing more immigration procedures digitally and before departure. Globally, 86% said they were likely to share immigration information digitally in advance, up from 83% in 2025. Some 45% preferred to complete immigration procedures before reaching the airport, while 60% preferred applying for visas online rather than in person at a consulate or embassy.
Careen said governments could help simplify travel by reducing duplicate checks and accelerating the issuance and acceptance of secure digital travel credentials.
"More than 100 countries issue eVisas, yet there is little consistency in how they are checked. The tools to fix that already exist, and governments should adopt them," he said.
The Global Passenger Survey was based on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries. Its findings reflect passenger experiences, preferences and intentions, while Iata's September passenger-market figures measure actual airline traffic.
