The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported on 2026-07-31 that global air passenger demand increased by 0.2% year on year in July 2026. ^[1] Irish low-cost carrier Rajaner warned that some of its competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or survive the upcoming winter if oil prices remain high. ^[2] Global air capacity grew by 0.3% in July 2026, while the global passenger load factor slipped by 0.1 percentage points to 85.2%. ^[3] IATA stated that sharp declines in passenger demand in the Middle East and North America offset growth in other regions to result in the global 0.2% increase. ^[4] Middle Eastern carriers recorded the steepest international decline with demand falling by 9.5% and capacity by 5.8%, causing their load factor to drop by 3.3 percentage points to 80.9%. ^[5] Rajaner expects ticket prices on short-haul flights to rise significantly if oil prices remain high through 2027. ^[6] Rajaner reduced its traffic volume target for next year from 216 million to 214 passengers to use less fuel during the winter at higher prices. ^[7] The average price of jet fuel increased by 8.2 percent compared to the previous month and is 74.2 percent higher than last year, according to the International Air Transport Association. ^[8]