Preliminary traffic figures for the month of April released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed continued growth in international air passenger markets, supported by ongoing expansion in the global services sectors.
Collectively, Asia Pacific airlines recorded a 3.7 per cnet increase in the number of international passengers carried to a combined total of 31.2 million in April, with promotional airfare campaigns lending support to travel markets. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), demand grew by 3.5 per cent, reflecting relative strength in regional travel markets.
After accounting for a 4.1 per cent increase in available seat capacity, the average international passenger load factor edged 0.5 percentage points lower to 80.8 per cent for the month.
AAPA director general, Andrew Herdman said: “These traffic trends paint a mixed picture. The first four months of the year saw a 4.9% increase in the number of passengers carried by the region’s airlines to an aggregate total of 125 million, whereas air cargo markets experienced a 6.3% decline in demand during the same period.
“Growth remained relatively encouraging in air passenger markets, with sustained demand in regional economies. Since the last quarter of 2018, however, air cargo volumes have recorded declines as unresolved disputes and the imposition of trade tariffs led to a marked slowdown in international trade flows.”
Herdman said, “The current trade tensions and further erosion in business confidence could undermine growth prospects going forward, even though demand for international air travel is expected to remain relatively firm.
“The region’s airlines are proactively exploring new opportunities for growth, whilst carefully managing capacity expansion and implementing measures to contain costs in a bid to navigate successfully through the ongoing challenges.”
