AAPA passenger demand up by 10.2% year-over-year

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported 26.2 million international passengers in July, up 10.2% year-over-year (YOY).

International passenger demand grew 8.4% YOY to 96.57 billion RPKs, reflecting strong demand for both regional and long-haul travel, AAPA said. Overall capacity on international scheduled services grew 7.3% YOY to 118.02 billion ASKs, lifting the region’s passenger load factor 0.8 point YOY to 81.8%.

Asian airlines’ July air cargo volume was up 3.9% YOY to 5.57 billion freight tonnes-per-kilometer (FTKs). Freight capacity increased 3.4% YOY to 8.97 billion FATKs, resulting in a 62.1% freight load factor, up 0.4 point YOY.

“[While] international air cargo demand has been relatively weak … we have seen a modest pickup in air cargo volumes during the past couple of months,” AAPA DG Andrew Herdman said.

Year-to-date (YTD), the number of international passengers in the Asia-Pacific region has risen 6.8% YOY. Passenger demand for the first seven months of 2016 is up 7.3% YOY to 615.76 billion RPKS; capacity YTD is up 7% YOY to 733.05 billion ASKs. The international passenger load factor for the region YTD is 78.5%, up a marginal 0.2 point YOY.

“Demand outlook for [Asia-Pacific] air passenger markets remains positive,” Herdman said, citing the continuing appeal of affordable fares in the region, “although demand for some European destinations has been affected by security concerns.”

AAPA’s member airlines include Air Astana, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Dragonair, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International.