AAPA sees “encouraging growth”
Preliminary traffic figures for April from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed “encouraging growth” in both international passenger and air cargo markets.
A total of 21 million international passengers flew on AAPA airlines in April, a 7.4% increase compared to the same month last year, boosted partly by leisure travel demand during the Easter holiday season in some countries.
Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), international passenger traffic grew by 7.0%, a reflection of comparatively stronger demand for short-haul travel. However, the average international passenger load factor edged 0.3 percentage points lower to 76.4% for the month, on a 7.5% increase in available seat capacity.
For the region’s carriers, international air cargo demand in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) increased by 4.7% in April, on the back of sustained demand for Asian exports. However, freight load factors remained under pressure due to capacity expansion.
AAPA director general Andrew Herdman said, “The overall demand environment looks positive, underpinned by positive growth in the global economy. However, the region’s carriers continue to face intense competition in the marketplace with signs of overcapacity and the resulting yield pressures.”