Airlines in Asia have been experiencing a strong recovery in passenger and cargo traffic.
"Asia Pacific-based airlines carried a total of 15.1 million international passengers in June, a sharp 25.2% gain compared to the depressed volumes seen in the same month last year," says the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). The AAPA calculates its figures by compiling the data of its 15 member airlines and eight non-member carriers. The carriers are the major full-service carriers in the region.
The AAPA says RPKs grew 19% and airlines responded by increasing ASKs by 6%, resulting in a 8.5 percentage point rise in the passenger load factor to 79.5%.
Demand was particularly strong on short-haul routes, it adds.
On the cargo front, revenue freight tonne kilometres rose 30.4%, it says, adding that airlines increased cargo capacity by 22%.
AAPA director general Andrew Herdman says: "Asia Pacific-based airlines have seen a solid recovery in leisure and business travel as well as robust air cargo demand."
"The business outlook for the coming months remains broadly positive," he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news