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Preliminary
traffic figures for the month of November released today by the
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed growth in both
international passenger numbers and air cargo traffic.
The
region's carriers registered a 6.7% increase in international passenger
numbers to a combined total of 18.2 million in November, with continued
regional economic confidence supporting both business and leisure
travel demand. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres, international
passenger demand grew by 5.1%, whilst available seat capacity expanded
by 5.6%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point fall in the average
international passenger load factor to 76.3% for the month.
For
Asia Pacific airlines, international air cargo demand in freight tonne
kilometre (FTK) terms registered a solid 5.4% increase compared to the
same month last year, following a pickup in global demand for Asian
exports. However, the average international freight load factor
continued to edge downwards, registering a 0.5 percentage point fall to
67.2% in November, after a 6.1% expansion in offered freight capacity.
Commenting
on the results, Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, "Over
the past eleven months, Asia Pacific airlines carried a total of 200
million international passengers, 6.0% more than in the same period last
year, maintaining the pattern of steady growth seen over the past five
years. Conversely, air cargo demand has remained relatively weak, with
volumes 0.7% lower compared to the same period last year, but has picked
up in recent months in line with steadily improving global economic
conditions. Looking ahead, Asian carriers remain positive about
prospects for further growth in demand for air travel in the coming
year, and ongoing stabilisation of air cargo demand, supported by the
gradual improvement in global business and consumer sentiment."
Air Transport News
