ASIA PACIFIC. Asia Pacific airlines posted a +6.0% year-on-year increase in international passengers in 2016, to 293 million.
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) said growth was boosted by the widespread availability of competitive airfares and a continued expansion in network connections.
Asian regional travel markets were relatively strong, according to AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman, as was demand on routes to and from North America. Routes from Asia to Europe saw some weakness following terrorist-related incidents, he noted.
Looking to 2017, Herdman commented: “The outlook for air travel markets in 2017 remains broadly positive, although the earlier boost to demand from falling oil prices is now behind us, and growth rates may moderate.
“Market conditions remain highly competitive, and airlines are focused on active cost management, whilst continuing to invest in future growth opportunities.”
The average international passenger load factor rose by 0.3 percentage points to reach 78.7% for the year, after accounting for a +6.6% increase in demand as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) and a +6.3% expansion in available seat capacity.
