Business Digest
Holiday travellers boost Asia-Pacific passenger growth by 7.8%
April 1st 2015
In December, Asia-Pacific airlines reported an 7.8% increase in the number of international passengers carried, to 23.3 million, underpinned by an increase in leisure travellers during the end-year holiday season. Read More » International passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), grew by 6.5%, whilst available seat capacity expanded by 5.7%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor, to 78.1%, for the month.
Overall, the last quarter of 2014 saw an acceleration in international passenger demand. with a 6.5% increase in passengers carried compared with the same quarter in the previous year, which brought the year’s annual increase to 4.9%. Travel demand was boosted by sustained regional economic growth and the gradual improvement in the U.S. economy.
However, while demand remained firm, overcapacity concerns weighed on passenger yields, reflecting the highly competitive market environment. Capacity expansion exceeded demand growth for most of the year, which resulted in a 0.9 percentage point contraction in the average international passenger load factor to 77.0%, below the global average of 79.2%.
Asia-Pacific cargo continues recovery
Over the course of the year, robust trade continued to spur demand for air shipments within the region and internationally. In freight tonne kilometres (FTK), Asia-Pacific airlines saw a firm 6.0% increase in air freight demand in December. Combined with a 4.4% expansion in offered freight capacity, the average international freight load factor increased by 1.0 percentage point, to 65.3%, or the month.
Following three consecutive years of decline, 2014 saw a rebound in air freight markets, with a 5.3% increase in international freight demand compared with the previous year. Offered freight capacity grew by 4.0%, leading to a 0.8 percentage point increase in the average international freight load factor, to 64.9%.
Lunar New Year boosts January passenger and freight demnd
Underpinned by robust regional travel markets, 22.4 million international passengers flew on the region’s carriers in January, 4.6% more than the same month last year. International passenger demand, in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) terms, grew by 3.9%, whilst available seat capacity expanded by 5.5%, leading to a 1.2 percentage point decline in the average international passenger load factor, to 77.4%, for the month.
Import-export activity leading up to the Lunar New Year festive period contributed to a 7.0% increase in international air cargo business, , as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK). The average international freight load factor continued to strengthen, recording a 1.3 percentage point increase, to 61.8%, on a 4.8% increase in offered freight capacity.
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This report was compiled by the Research and Statistics Department of the AAPA Secretariat.
