The Asia Pacific region saw moderate growth in international passenger markets in May, according to figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
The association said the sustained regional economic expansion supported business and leisure travel markets in the month.
In May, a combined total of 30.4 million international passengers were carried by Asia Pacific airlines, 4.4 per cent more than the same month last year.
Demand in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) grew by 4.5 per cent year-on-year, surpassing the 3.6 per cent rise in available seat capacity resulting in a 0.7 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor to reach 78.5 per cent for the month.
AAPA director general, Andrew Herdman said sustained expansion in major global and regional economies supported further growth in passenger markets.
In the first five months of the year, Asian airlines carried a total of 155 million passengers, 4.8 per cent more than the same period in 2018.
Looking ahead, Herdman said: “While prospects for growth in travel markets remain positive, operating conditions have become increasingly challenging for the region’s carriers.”
