PAX figures up, but cargo down again

May statistics

by ORIENT AVIATION 

September 1st 2012

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In May, Asia-Pacific carriers continued to see growth in international passenger demand. The number of passengers carried grew 8.5% to 16.5 million compared to the same month last year, supported by positive consumer demand in the region’s economies. Read More »

Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), international traffic increased 6.1%, outpacing the 4.2% growth in available seat capacity. This resulted in a 1.4 percentage point improvement in the average international passenger load factor (PLF) to 75.4%.

During the first five months of the year, the number of international passengers carried by Asia-Pacific airlines increased by 8.7% to an aggregate total of 83.9 million. Traffic measured in RPK terms grew 7.3% whilst available seat capacity expanded by 5.3%, which resulted in a 1.4 percentage point increase in the average international PLF to 77%.

FREIGHT

International air cargo demand of Asia-Pacific based carriers continued to fall in May, a reflection of the persistent weakness in global trade markets. In freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), international cargo traffic volume fell 5.5% compared with the same month last year.

Combined with a 2.8% fall in offered freight capacity, the average international freight load factor (FLF) for the month contracted 1.9 percentage points to 66.3%.

For the first five months of the year, international cargo demand for Asia-Pacific airlines fell 5%, caused mainly by weak consumer demand in the Euro zone and major developed economies, including the U.S. and Japan. Offered freight capacity declined 2.8%, which resulted in a 1.5 percentage point fall in the average international FLF for the region’s carriers to 65.8%.

JUNE

Preliminary statistics for June show Asia-Pacific airlines carried 17 million international passengers, an increase of 8.5% compared to the same month last year. In RPK terms, international traffic grew 8.1%, outpacing the 4.3 % expansion in available seat capacity, which resulted in a 2.8 percentage point increase in the average international PLF to 80.2% for the month.

International cargo demand in FTKs was 0.8% lower in June compared to the same month last year, reflecting continued weakness in global trade conditions. Offered freight capacity declined 1.4%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point increase in the average international FLF to 67.8%.

* This report was compiled by the Research and Statistics Department of the AAPA Secretariat. A comprehensive AAPA monthly statistics digest is available to download