Asia Pacific airlines flies to 10.7% growth in November traffic

Monday, 27 December 2010 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Preliminary traffic figures, compiled by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), for the month of November 2010 show ongoing robust demand in both the international passenger and air freight markets.

Overall, airlines based in the Asia Pacific region carried 15.5 million international passengers in November 2010, an increase of 10.7% compared to the same month last year, underpinned by strong regional travel demand. Measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, international passenger traffic grew by 8.2%. Available seat capacity expanded by 7.5%, resulting in a modest 0.5 percentage point gain in the average international passenger load factor, to 76.9%.

International cargo traffic, expressed in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms, registered 10.6% growth in November compared to the same month last year. A similar increase in offered freight capacity left the average international air cargo load factor for Asia Pacific carriers unchanged at 70.7% for the month.

Commenting on the results, Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, “Asia Pacific based airlines have led the industry recovery this year, benefitting from robust demand for both business and leisure travel, particularly in markets to, from and within Asia. Air cargo has also rebounded very strongly this year, although the reported monthly growth rates are beginning to moderate as supply chain inventories are rebalanced. Overall, for the first eleven months of the year, the number of international passengers carried by Asia Pacific airlines increased by 13.8%, whilst international air cargo volumes recorded 26.3% growth.”

“Asia Pacific carriers have managed their way successfully through the downturn, and are on track to report significantly improved financial results for the full year 2010. The outlook for 2011 also remains broadly positive, given expectations of sustained demand growth. Nevertheless, carriers need to remain vigilant, and will be carefully monitoring the progress of economic recovery in the major developed markets, as well as the threat of higher oil prices, amongst other challenges, including unwelcome increases in government taxes and charges which undermine the important role played by aviation in promoting positive economic growth and social development,” he added.