Airlines in Asia Pacific Carried 23.3 Million Passengers in March 2015

Preliminary traffic figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) for the month of March 2015 show further growth in both international passenger and air cargo markets.

Boosted by leisure travel towards the end of the Lunar New Year period, the region's carriers achieved a strong 11.3% increase in the number of international passengers carried to a combined total of 23.3 million.

In revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, international passenger demand registered a corresponding 11.1% growth, exceeding the 7.3% expansion in available seat capacity to result in a 2.7 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor to 78.4% for the month.

International air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms, recorded growth of 1.7% in March, in contrast to the much higher rates of growth recorded in the first two months of the year. The average international freight load factor edged 0.4 percentage points lower to 68.3%, on a 2.4% increase in offered freight capacity.

Andrew Herdman

Commenting on the results, Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, "Overall, for the first quarter of 2015, we saw an encouraging 9.4% increase in the number of international passengers carried by Asia Pacific airlines to an aggregate total of 67.7 million, substantially higher than the 4.9% growth achieved in the previous year. During the same period, Asian airlines saw international air cargo demand grow by 8.4%, partly boosted by the dispute affecting maritime shipments at US West Coast ports."

Looking ahead, Mr. Herdman added, "The demand environment remains positive in the coming months, with lower oil prices supporting global economic growth and availability of affordable airfares in both business and leisure travel markets."

"In aggregate, the region's airlines were operating at close to break even in 2014, despite recording solid growth in both passenger numbers and cargo volumes, as yields remained under competitive pressure. Notwithstanding the positive outlook for future growth in demand, Asian airlines are still facing highly competitive market conditions across all sectors of the industry. Airlines remain very focused on carefully managing costs, whilst optimising their route networks to better serve faster growing markets. For many airlines, restoring profitability is the key to sustaining continued investment for the future," Mr. Herdman concluded.