Asia Pacific air cargo results up 10.6pc in first 11 months

ASIAN air traffic results show continuing robust demand in air freight for November according to figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) for November.

International cargo traffic, expressed in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) terms, registered 10.6 per cent growth in November compared to the same month last year.

A similar increase in offered freight capacity left the average international air cargo load factor for Asia Pacific carriers unchanged at 70.7 per cent for the month.

"Asia Pacific based airlines have led the industry recovery this year, benefitting from robust demand from and within Asia. Air cargo rebounded very strongly this year, although the reported monthly growth rates are beginning to moderate as supply chain inventories are rebalanced," said AAPA director general Andrew Herdman.

"Overall, for the first eleven months of the year, international air cargo volumes recorded 26.3 per cent growth," he said.

Overall, airlines based in the Asia Pacific region carried 15.5 million international passengers in November 2010, an increase of 10.7 per cent compared to the same month last year, underpinned by strong regional travel demand.

Measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, international passenger traffic grew by 8.2 per cent. Available seat capacity expanded by 7.5 per cent, resulting in a modest 0.5 percentage point gain in the average international passenger load factor, to 76.9 per cent.

"Asia Pacific carriers have managed their way successfully through the downturn, and are on track to report significantly improved financial results for the full year 2010. The outlook for 2011 remains broadly positive, given expectations of sustained demand growth.

"Nevertheless, carriers need to remain vigilant, and will be carefully monitoring the progress of economic recovery in the major developed markets, as well as the threat of higher oil prices, amongst other challenges, including unwelcome increases in taxes and charges which undermine the important role played by aviation in promoting positive economic growth and social development," Mr Herdman said.
(Source:www.schednet.com)