African airlines record highest international air travel demand in January 2026 – IATA

African airlines recorded the highest growth in international air travel demand in January 2026, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) rising 11.7% year-on-year.

This data comes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) global passenger demand report released on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The growth shows that African carriers led global international demand expansion, surpassing all other regions and reflecting strong momentum in cross-border travel.