ASIA PACIFIC. Preliminary April 2022 traffic figures revealed by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show a healthy increase in international passenger demand. The trade body attributed the rise to progressive relaxation of border restrictions across the region which stimulated business and leisure travel.
Against a low base, Asia Pacific airlines recorded a +272.9% jump in the number of international passengers carried (a total of 4.8 million) compared to April last year. Underlining the limited scale of the increase, demand rose to an average of 15.2% of the volumes posted in pre-pandemic April 2019.
In revenue passenger (RPK) terms, international passenger demand in April increased by a robust +302.7% year-on-year, which AAPA said reflects the growing strength of longer haul traffic.
Available seat capacity for April expanded by +77.5% year-on-year, resulting in a solid +36.3% increase in the average international passenger load factor to 64.9% for the month. This is the highest level achieved since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said: “With vaccination rates high in the region, the general easing of border regulations has unleashed pent-up travel demand, as evidenced by the strong growth in international passenger numbers in April and healthy forward booking patterns.”
He added: “Asia Pacific continues to lag in the recovery of international travel. To build on the current momentum towards a full recovery, it is vital that governments and industry stakeholders collaborate closely with the aim of simplifying border measures and streamlining digital applications to make air travel truly seamless.”
