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China Airlines and EVA post softer passenger numbers, stronger cargo for September
October 16th 2020
Taiwan's two largest carriers, China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Air, this week reported a fall in passengers carried in September.
EVA Air's September passenger numbers fell 21% month-on-month, to 36,435, from 46,075 in August. Passenger load factor slipped 5.2 percentage points, to 22.3%, from 27.5% in August. Read More »
There was a similar, albeit more moderate, decline at CAL, which carried 29,472 passengers in September, down 3% from 30,398 a month earlier. Passenger load factor dropped 4.5 percentage points to 23%, compared with 27.5% in August.
Taiwan closed its borders in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but since late June the government allowed international passengers to transit through the country, subject to transit time being less than eight hours and that both flights were with the same airline group.
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport figures, published in August, reported the bulk of transit passengers, which averaged about 200 a day at the time, were travelling between Southeast Asia and North America
Taiwan also is allowing some business travellers to enter the country from several nations without requiring them to submit to full 14-day quarantine, depending on the risk level of the traveller’s departure point to Taiwan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week it was establishing travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand. It is working on a travel bubble with Pacific Island nation, Palau that will allow tour groups to travel between the two countries.
A number of local carriers, including CAL and EVA Air, have launched sightseeing flights around the country that have proved very popular.
EVA Air also is offering the use of its commercial aircraft fleet for private charter services, local media reported last week.
In contrast with passenger numbers, CAL and EVA Air reported year-on-year growth for cargo in September.
CAL’s freight revenue tonne kilometres (FRTK), a measure of demand, rose 28.6% in September, compared with September last year and available freight tonne kilometres (FATK), were up 19.5%. With demand rising faster than capacity, cargo load factor improved 5.1 percentage points to 72.2%.
EVA Air said cargo freight tonne kilometres were 16.7% higher in September from a year earlier and that capacity increased 0.79% year-on-year. Cargo load factor was up 12.5%, at 91.9%.
