Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 23.3 Million International Passengers in November 2016

Preliminary traffic figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines for the month of November 2016 show further growth in both international air passenger markets and international air cargo demand.

The region's airlines carried a combined total of 23.3 million international passengers in November, representing a 4.0% increase compared to the same month last year.

Underpinned by continued strength on long haul travel markets, demand in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) grew by 6.2%, while the average international passenger load factor rose by 0.7 percentage points to 77.4% for the month after accounting for a 5.1% expansion in available seat capacity.

International air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), climbed 5.3% higher, underpinned by broad-based improvements in new export orders. Combined with a 3.2% increase in offered freight capacity, the average international freight load factor gained 1.4 percentage points to reach the year's monthly high of 66.9%.

Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General, said, "Asian airlines carried an aggregate total of 267 million international passengers in the first eleven months of the year, representing continued robust growth in demand, up 5.9% on the corresponding period in the previous year. The region's carriers have seen a modest but progressive recovery in international air cargo demand this year, with volume growth of 1.2% for the first eleven months of 2016."

Looking ahead, Mr. Herdman said, "International air passenger demand maintained a strong growth trend throughout 2016, despite geopolitical uncertainties, supported by lower oil prices and widespread availability of affordable air fares. Air cargo markets picked up modestly during the course of the year, but rates remain highly competitive, reflecting soft global trade conditions. The general outlook for the global economy in 2017, including further growth in demand for air travel, remains reasonably positive, but airlines will need to be vigilant over costs, given fluctuations in oil prices as well as exchange rate volatility."

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