Preliminary April 2024 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) underscore strong demand for international passenger travel, with both business and leisure markets continuing to enjoy robust growth. Overall, a combined total of 28.0 million international passengers flew with the region’s carriers in April, representing a 32.0% increase compared to the same month last year.
Air traffic averaged 87.3% of 2019 volumes. Demand in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose by 33.7% year-on-year, showing growth notably on longer haul routes. Available seat capacity grew by 30.4%, leading to a 2.1 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor, to 81.6%.
Higher demand for consumer and intermediate goods contributed to the ongoing positive momentum in air cargo markets. For the Asia Pacific region’s carriers, international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), recorded a 13.7% year-on-year growth in April, while offered freight capacity expanded by 14.4%, leading to a marginal 0.4 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 59.9%.
Commenting on the results, Subhas Menon, director general of AAPA said, “Improving economic sentiment, coupled with high demand on major routes connecting Asia and other regions, including Europe and Southwest Pacific, drove growth in long-haul travel markets, while travel demand within the region remained buoyant, underpinned by the easing of visa policies and resilient expansion in the region’s economies. Overall, the number of international passengers carried rose by 51%, to a total of 117 million for the first four months of the year.”
Menon added, “During the same period, Asia Pacific airlines also posted an encouraging 15% year-on-year increase in air cargo traffic volumes, with the pick-up in global demand supporting export activity from major manufacturing hubs located in the region, in particular, China.”
Looking ahead, Menon continued, “Positive business and consumer confidence levels are likely to support continued growth in air passenger and cargo markets in the coming months. Nevertheless, supply chain constraints and higher operating costs remain a concern, while geopolitical tensions continue to cloud the outlook of the industry. Against this background, the region’s carriers remain focused on improving operational efficiency and growing sustainably, while upkeeping safety standards.”
