AAPA confirmed that Asia Pacific carriers continue to grow strongly thanks to strong economic fundamentals. However, the growth mostly concerns passengers while freight evolution remains at best flat…
KUALA LUMPUR – Preliminary traffic figures for the month of March released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) revealed continued growth in international air passenger markets, whilst international air cargo demand remained weak.
A total of 18.6 million international passengers were carried by Asia Pacific airlines in March, 7.4% more than in the same month last year, supported by sustained growth in business travel markets and robust demand for leisure travel during the Easter holiday period. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), international passengers’ traffic increased by 5.4%, reflecting a relatively strong demand on regional routes. Available seat capacity was up by 2.9%, resulting in a 1.8 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor to 79.3% for the month.
On the other hand, Asia Pacific carriers reported a 3.1% decline in international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), compared to the same month last year. Combined with a 2.1% reduction in offered freight capacity, the average international cargo load factor fell slightly, by 0.6 percentage points, to 69.2%.
Commenting on the results, Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, “During the first quarter of the year, Asia Pacific airlines saw international passenger numbers increase by an encouraging 5.7% compared to last year, but international freight demand fell 4.0% during the same period. Whilst international passenger demand continues to be underpinned by solid economic growth within the Asia Pacific region, international air freight demand remains soft, reflecting continuing weakness in key export markets.
Looking ahead, Mr Herdman, added, “The gradual recovery in the global economy should support further growth in passenger demand, and hopes of some modest improvement in world trade conditions could see air cargo markets picking up later this year.”
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
