Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 11.7 Million International Passengers in September

(27/10/22)  According to preliminary traffic figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), international passenger demand sustained strong upward momentum in September 2022 despite a worsening global economic outlook.

The number of international passengers carried by the region’s airlines during the month surged to 11.7 million, up from the 1.4 million registered in September 2021 and bringing volumes to average 39% of the same month in 2019.

Demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased by 575.1% year-on-year, reflecting the strength of regional travel markets.

Thai Airways A350-900. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

After accounting for a 189.6% expansion in available seat capacity, the average international passenger load factor jumped by 44.6 percentage points to 78% for the month, just 0.6 percentage points shy of corresponding pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), recorded a double-digit decline of 10.4% year-on-year in September. Offered freight capacity continued to expand, by 5.9% for the month, leading to a 11.6 percentage point fall in the average international freight load factor to 64%.

“Asian airlines are seeing encouraging recovery in international travel demand and achieving load factors close to pre-pandemic levels. Overall, the number of international passengers carried grew by 448.7% during the first nine months of the year, compared with the same period in 2021,” said Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General. “On the other hand, a 4.4% decline in air cargo demand was registered in the same period. The outlook for the cargo market remains subdued in the near term. Overall, the region’s airlines continue to face a challenging operating environment, with operating costs under pressure as a result of high fuel prices and weak local currencies.”

Thailand will host the 66th AAPA Assembly of Presidents next month, when Asia Pacific airline leaders will meet in person to discuss sustainability, the state of the industry, future growth opportunities and the various challenges facing the industry.

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