Global airline capacity reached new heights this month, expanding by 14.2 million seats compared to August 2025—a 2.6% year-on-year increase, according to the latest market report from aviation intelligence provider OAG.
The surge is largely fuelled by two powerhouses: North East Asia, which added 5.1 million seats, and Western Europe, which saw an increase of 4.7 million seats. Central & Western Africa recorded the highest regional growth rate globally, surging 15.2% year-on-year.
In contrast, capacity in the Middle East remains constrained due to ongoing regional instability, dropping by 1.47 million seats (-5.7%). Minor capacity contractions were also recorded in the Southwest Pacific (-257,000 seats), South Asia (-233,000 seats), and the Caribbean (-204,000 seats).
North America
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Alaska Airlines led growth among North American operators with a 19.4% increase in flight frequency, reflecting the successful integration of Hawaiian Airlines.
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JetBlue recorded notable growth with a 9.8% expansion in flight operations.
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Most other major North American legacy and low-cost carriers maintained steady performance, growing between 1% and 4%.
Europe
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Ryanair continued its expansion trajectory, growing capacity by 6.0% compared to August 2025.
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easyJet and Turkish Airlines both delivered solid performance, each increasing flight capacity by 2.4%.
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Conversely, Deutsche Lufthansa AG saw a sharp drop of 10.8%, marking one of the steepest declines among top global carriers.
Middle East & Asia-Pacific
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Etihad Airways bucked regional trends in available seat kilometers (ASKs), posting an impressive 12.8% growth—the fastest ASK expansion among any top 20 global airline.
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Emirates (-5.4%) and Qatar Airways (-5.9%) continued to feel the impact of ongoing geopolitical disruption, recording lower international ASKs.
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All Nippon Airways (ANA) (-5.7%) and IndiGo (-2.9%) also contracted capacity this month.
Key Summary Metrics:
| Metric / Region | Year-on-Year Impact | Key Drivers |
| Global Capacity | +14.2M seats (+2.6%) | Robust summer leisure demand in Western Europe and North East Asia. |
| Top Growth Regions |
NE Asia: +5.1M seats Western Europe: +4.7M seats |
Expansion across major hub connections and seasonal routes. |
| Highest % Growth | Central/Western Africa: +15.2% | Accelerating intra-regional connectivity and market expansion. |
| Middle East Capacity | -1.47M seats (-5.7%) | Geopolitical instability affecting flight corridors and carrier ASKs. |
