ASIA PACIFIC. International passenger traffic at Asia Pacific airlines was up +6.2% year-on-year in November, to 29 million.
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) said growth was underpinned by continued strength in the global services sectors.
Demand in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms increased +6.5%, reflecting relative strength on long haul markets. Available seat capacity expanded +6.0%, resulting in a slight increase in the average international passenger load factor, by 0.3 percentage points to 79.3% for the month.
Click on image to enlarge.
“Business and leisure travel markets continued to expand at an encouraging pace for the region’s airlines, on the back of continued global economic expansion and rising regional living standards,” said AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman.
Asian airlines registered a +7.1% increase in international passengers carried in the first eleven months of 2018, for an aggregate total of 325 million.
Looking ahead, Herdman said prospects remained “relatively positive” overall. “Continued moderate growth in the global economy and lowered oil prices should support further expansion in air travel demand in the coming year,” he commented.
“The recent deterioration in trade sentiment and uncertainties over the potential impact on consumer confidence levels present some downside risks.
“Overall, Asian airlines continue to exercise vigilance in monitoring any changes in market conditions, whilst seeking growth opportunities.”
