Asia Pacific Airlines Traffic Results – October 2010

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Preliminary traffic figures for the month of October released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) confirm the trend of continuing strong demand for both international passenger traffic and air cargo. Collectively, airlines based in the Asia Pacific region carried 15.9 million international passengers in October, a growth of 11.8% compared to the same month last year, with robust demand for both business and leisure travel, particularly on Asian regional routes. International passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms saw 8.2% growth. Available seat capacity was 5.4% higher than a year ago, resulting in a 2.1 percentage point improvement in the average international passenger load factor, to 79.5%.

Air cargo demand remained robust, with a 16.6% increase in cargo traffic, measured in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms, in October compared to the same month last year. The average international air cargo load factor for Asia Pacific carriers was 1.1 percentage points higher at 71.1% for the month, based on 14.8% growth in offered freight capacity.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said, “The dynamic economies of Asia are powering ahead and so are its airlines. Passengers are back in numbers, and the return of premium class passengers and airfreight is particularly welcome. The improving mix of business, coupled with disciplined capacity management, has seen Asian airlines leading the industry in returning to profitability.”

He added, “For the first ten months of the year, we have seen 14.2% growth in the number of international passengers carried by Asian airlines, whilst the sharp rebound in global trade led to a 28.5% jump in our international air cargo traffic.”

He concluded, “The double digit traffic growth rates seen throughout 2010 are expected to gently ease back towards long term trends, but with the region still delivering dynamic growth, the overall outlook for Asian carriers for the coming year remains very positive.”