Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported (26-Apr-2018) Asia Pacific airlines showed "firm growth in international air passenger markets, and more moderate but still positive growth in air cargo demand" during Mar-2018.
- AAPA stated broad-based expansion in the global economy continued to spur business and leisure travel demand. Regional airlines handled 30.4 million passengers in Mar-2018, up 10.6% year-on-year. RPKs gew 11.1%, while AKSs rose 7.5%. Average international passenger load factor was 81.5%, up 2.6ppts;
- Air cargo demand on routes within the region, as well as traffic to and from the region remained encouraging, underpinned by demand for transportation of both intermediate goods and consumer products including strong growth in e-commerce shipments. AFTKs rose 5.6% while FTKs rose 2.8%, resulting in an average international freight load factor of 65.5%, down 1.8ppts;
- AAPA director general Andrew Herdman reported Asian airlines carried a combined total of 88 million international passengers in 1Q2018, which was an "encouraging 6.8% increase". International air cargo demand also "remained robust during the same period, achieving 5.9% growth, building further on last year's very strong cargo performance" said Mr Herdman. [more - original PR]