Business Digest
Asia-Pacific passengers still trailing capacity growth
February 1st 2015
Spurred by robust regional trade, which boosted business travel markets, Asia-Pacific airlines carried 21.8 million international passengers in October, an increase of 6.1% compared with the same month last year. Read More » A combined 4.9% increase in demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), and a 6.4% expansion in available seat capacity led to a 1.1 percentage point fall in the average international passenger load factor, to 75.4% for the month.
During the first ten months of the year, the region’s carriers saw a 4.5% increase in international passengers carried, 212 million, a slowdown from the 8.5% growth in 2013. Available seat capacity rose by 6.2%, outpacing the 4.6% increase in demand in RPK terms. As a result, the average international passenger load factor declined by 1.2 percentage points, to 77.2%, below the global average of 79.7%.
Asia-Pacific cargo reached year’s peak
International freight demand continued to strengthen in October, sustained by increased trade.Asia-Pacific airlines registered a combined 6.0% growth in international freight demand, but offered freight capacity expanded at the comparatively slower pace of 3.5%, which resulted in a 1.6 percentage point rise in the average international freight load factor, to 66.4% for the month.
During the first ten months of the year, the region experienced a 5.1% increase in international freight traffic. Offered freight capacity grew by 4.2%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point increase in the average international freight load factor, to 64.4%.
Upbeat forecast for November cargo and passenger business
Strong regional trade helped to underpin business related travel, which contributed to a 5.5% increase in international passengers carried by Asia-Pacific airlines to 21.1 million for the month. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), demand increased by 3.9%, just under the 4.4% expansion in capacity. As a result, the average international passenger load factor declined by 0.3 percentage points, to 74.9%.
International air freight demand accelerated in November, driven by strong growth in shipments of electronic goods for the year-end festive season. In freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms, air cargo demand increased by 5.6%, with monthly volumes reaching the year’s high. Offered freight capacity grew by a comparatively modest 1.9%, which led to a 2.4 percentage point gain in the average international freight load factor, to 68.3% for the month.
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This report was compiled by the Research and Statistics Department of the AAPA Secretariat.
