KUALA LUMPUR, 11 January 2024: Preliminary November 2023 traffic figures released Tuesday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show a solid expansion in international passenger markets, with healthy travel demand buoyed by continued recovery in tourism activity across the region.
A combined 25.1 million international passengers flew on Asia Pacific airlines in November, representing a substantial 76.9% increase compared to the same month in 2022. This amounted to 80.9% of the levels in the same period in 2019. Traffic in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) grew by 66.9% year-on-year, outpacing a 61.3% expansion in available seat capacity to result in a 2.7 percentage point climb in the average international passenger load factor to 79.6% for the month.
Meanwhile, following a prolonged period of subdued demand conditions, growth in air cargo markets gained momentum. Higher demand for consumer goods driven by the approaching year-end festive period underpinned an 8.4% year-on-year growth in international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) in November. However, the international freight load factor eased by 1.5 percentage points to an average of 62.0% for the month after accounting for an 11.0% year-on-year expansion in offered freight capacity.
Commenting on the results, AAPA director general Subhas Menon said: “During the first 11 months of 2023, Asia Pacific airlines carried a combined 250 million international passengers, reflecting pent-up demand in the post-pandemic recovery period, up by 178% on the corresponding period in the previous year.”
Turning to the air cargo markets, Menon added: “Subdued economic conditions have resulted in a 4.2% overall decline in air cargo demand for the first eleven months of 2023, despite some growth in volumes since September.”
Looking ahead, he concluded: “Despite a slowdown in global economic activity and increase in geopolitical tensions, Asia Pacific carriers saw healthy growth in international passenger demand throughout the year, in tandem with the restoration of flight frequencies and connectivity. Air cargo markets have picked up, but uncertainties remain, with new export orders still in decline. Overall, the outlook for air travel demand remains positive, with a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels expected in 2024. Nevertheless, amid intensifying competition, airlines continue to be vigilant over costs, given fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rate volatility.”
(SOURCE: AAPA)
