Business Digest
Economic recovery bodes well for PAX growth
January statistics
May 1st 2013
Asia-Pacific airlines continued to see steady demand in passenger markets in January, with 17.6 million international passengers carried, which matched that of the same month last year. Read More »
In revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), international passenger traffic grew 0.8%. Available seat capacity expanded 1.3%, which resulted in a 0.4 percentage point fall in the average international passenger load factor (PLF) to 77.8% for the month.
The growth in passenger traffic in January was steady given the spike in passenger numbers in the same month 12 months ago during the Chinese New Year holiday. The outlook for international passenger demand remains positive, underpinned by sustained growth in the Asian markets and a gradual recovery in the U.S. economy.
Freight
The international air cargo demand of Asia-Pacific based carriers, expressed in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), increased 5.3% in January, compared to the same month in 2012 when demand was suppressed by the closure of manufacturing plants during the Chinese New Year break.
The average international air freight load factor (FLF) was three percentage points higher at 63% for the month. Available freight capacity rose a marginal 0.3%.
January’s figures have been somewhat distorted by the timing of the Chinese New Year festive period. A clear upturn is not yet evident, although with the recent pick-up in export and import activity, a tentative recovery in air cargo markets could still be seen this year. Nevertheless, overall performance of the air cargo markets also hinges on the stability of the Eurozone.
FEBRUARY
Preliminary reports for the month show that, in aggregate, Asia-Pacific airlines carried a combined total of 17.1 million international passengers in the month under review, up 9.3% compared with the same month last year. This reflected strong demand on regional routes.
In RPK terms, international passenger traffic grew at a more modest 6.4%. The average international PLF increased by two percentage points to 77.5% on the back of a 3.6% expansion in available seat capacity.
Conversely, international air freight demand, measured in FTKs, fell 13.2% compared to the same month last year, due to Chinese New Year factory closures. Offered freight capacity declined 8.8%, whilst the average international FLF was down 3.2 percentage points to 63.2% for the month.
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This report was compiled by the Research and Statistics Department of the AAPA Secretariat.
