Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 24.2 Million International Passengers in April 2016

Preliminary traffic figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) for the month of April 2016 show continuation of established trends, with steady growth in international air passenger demand, whereas air cargo markets remained weak.

The month of April 2016 saw the region's airlines carry 24.2 million international passengers, a 4.8% increase compared to the same month last year, on the back of continued strong regional demand.

In revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, international passenger volumes grew by 6.4%, boosted by an improvement in long-haul travel markets.

Capacity expansion of 6.4% matched demand growth, with the average international passenger load factor for the month unchanged at 78.0%.

Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, "During the first four months of the year, Asia Pacific airlines saw international passenger numbers increase by a healthy 6.9% to an aggregate total of 97.1 million. Passengers are benefiting from greater value than ever with competitive airfares and ever expanding consumer choice of products and services. However, international air cargo markets are still weak, with year to date demand registering a 4.8% decline compared to the same period a year ago, reflecting the lacklustre global trade conditions."

Air cargo demand was flat, with volumes in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms similar to those registered in the same month last year.

Expansion in available freight capacity continued to outpace the growth in demand. As a result, the average freight load factor for the region's carriers fell by 1.7 percentage points to 61.7%, after accounting for a 2.8% expansion in offered freight capacity. 

Looking ahead, Mr. Herdman said, "The outlook for air passenger demand is expected to remain positive, even though there are uncertainties regarding the global economic outlook. Accordingly, although the region's airlines are cautiously optimistic about further growth, they are at the same time continuing to focus attention on disciplined cost management efforts throughout the business."

See also: Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 24.4 Million Passengers in March 2016

AAPA Assembly of Presidents

HD videos from the AAPA Assembly of Presidents in November 2015 in Bali: AAPA Assembly of Presidents 2015 Closing Press Conference - HD, Andrew Herdman's Welcome Address at AAPA Assembly of Presidents (November 2015) in Bali - HD, Future of Air Travel - Interview with Ilya Gutlin President, Asia Pacific of SITA, Aviation Industry Update, Indonesia's Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ignasius Jonan giving Keynote Address, Mr. M. Arif Wibowo, President and CEO of Garuda Indonesia, Greg Gilchrist, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for Sabre Airline Solutions, and The Ritz-Carlton, Bali Interview with General Manager - Karim Tayach. 

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