IATA Reports 3.8% Increase In Global Air Travel Demand

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global air travel demand increased in January 2026, with revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rising by 3.8% compared with the same month a year earlier. Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 3.5%, while the global passenger load factor reached 82%, the highest level recorded for January

Record Load Factors And International Growth

International travel recorded stronger growth than domestic markets. Passenger demand on international routes increased by 5.9%, while capacity expanded by 5.8% compared with January 2025. These figures brought the international load factor to 82.5%, the highest level recorded for January in this segment. Domestic markets recorded more limited changes. Demand increased by 0.1%, while capacity declined by 0.4%. The domestic load factor reached 81.2%.

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Impact Of Lunar New Year Timing

IATA noted that the timing of the Lunar New Year influenced year-over-year comparisons. In 2025, the holiday occurred in January, while in 2026 it fell in February. According to IATA Director General Willie Walsh, this calendar shift partly explains the 3.8% increase recorded for January. Walsh said underlying travel demand in 2026 continues to show growth.

Outlook And Strategic Implications

Industry schedules indicate that global seat capacity could increase by 5.2% by March, which would represent the fastest expansion since April 2024. Walsh also noted that geopolitical developments may affect passenger demand and fuel costs. He said governments should continue to protect civil aviation operations and ensure passenger safety.

Regional Trends And Market Dynamics

Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region reported a 4.4% increase in demand while capacity increased by 5.2%. Load factors in the region reached 85.9%. European carriers recorded demand growth of 6.3%, while North American airlines reported a 3.4% increase. Latin American airlines saw demand rise by 11.4% and capacity by 8.9%, resulting in a load factor of 86.5%. African airlines also recorded increases, with demand rising by 11.7% and capacity by 10.1%.

Looking Ahead

Walsh said average airfares are expected to decline in real terms during 2026, continuing a long-term trend in the aviation sector. At the same time, airlines continue to face higher costs related to infrastructure charges, regulatory requirements and energy transition policies. He also noted that 2025 recorded the slowest pace of new airline start-ups since 1999. According to Walsh, this development may raise questions for governments focused on maintaining competition in the aviation industry. The report also points to ongoing challenges for airlines as the industry expands capacity and adapts to regulatory and cost pressures.

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Passkeys Are The Gold Standard For Account Security. So Why Don’t More Major Apps Offer Them?

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 25, 2026

Passkeys are increasingly being promoted as one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts. By reducing reliance on passwords, they help prevent phishing attacks, simplify sign-ins and strengthen account security. Despite those advantages, however, many major digital platforms have yet to adopt the technology.

A Security Upgrade Still Missing At Scale

That gap is the focus of whynopasskeys.com, a new site created by security researcher Scott Helme to highlight companies that have not yet enabled passkeys for their users. The site tracks major consumer brands that continue to rely on older login methods even as passkeys become the industry standard.

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Among the services still without passkey support are Instagram, Netflix and Spotify, according to the site’s data.

Why Passkeys Matter

Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are generated on a user’s device and linked both to that device and to a specific website or application. Authentication can be completed through biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID, a hardware security key or a password manager.

Because users do not need to create or remember passwords, opportunities for credential theft, phishing attacks and password reuse are significantly reduced. In most cases, gaining access to an account would require direct access to the user’s device.

Public Accountability As A Pressure Tactic

In a blog post explaining the project, Helme said the goal is to create pressure by making the absence of passkey support visible. “A list is a surprisingly effective motivator. Nobody wants to be on the list,” he wrote.

That approach has already worked elsewhere in cybersecurity: when businesses are publicly compared against peers on basic protections, they often move faster to close the gap. In this case, the list is intended to push platforms to give users a stronger and simpler login option.

The Companies Moving Faster

Many large technology companies have already adopted passkeys, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, reflecting the technology’s growing role in account security.

Implementation, however, remains uneven. Instagram users can currently access passkeys only when their account is linked to a Facebook account that already has passkey support enabled, highlighting differences in adoption even within the same company.

The Bigger Business Question

Meta has not publicly explained why passkeys are available on some of its platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, but not fully across Instagram.

Debate within the industry is no longer centred on whether passkeys work, but on how quickly companies are willing to deploy them. As phishing, credential theft and account fraud remain persistent cybersecurity challenges, passkeys are increasingly being viewed not as an optional feature but as an emerging security standard.

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