Asia-Pacific airlines see November uplift

INTERNATIONAL air cargo demand leapt up year on year 12 per cent by freight ton kilometre (FTK) in November for the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) member airlines with passenger volume up by 4.5 per cent at 11.1 million.

"After a difficult year, in which AAPA international passenger traffic has fallen eight per cent, and international air cargo traffic registered a 14 per cent decline, the November traffic figures are mildly encouraging, in line with the broader economic recovery underway being led by the Asia Pacific region," said AAPA director general Andrew Herdman.

According to AAPA figures average international passenger load factor for November reached 76.2 per cent, up 4.9 percentage points with passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms increasing 3.5 per cent. Available seat capacity was cut by 3.1 per cent.

Mr Herdman said the market is still "extremely challenging" with demand well below pre-recession figures. "In addition, the aviation industry is still wrestling with the problem of low yields and continuing oil price volatility, so a recovery in airline profitability is still some way off," he added.
 

Source: SchedNet