In total, the region's airlines carried 29.5m international passengers in June, a solid 10.7% increase compared to the same month last year. Demand in revenue passenger kilometres increased by 9.6%. The average international passenger load factor climbed 1.9 percentage points higher to 81.6% for the month, incorporating the 7.0% expansion in available seat capacity.
International air cargo demand also saw growth but at a more moderate pace. The global manufacturing sector experienced slower growth in June, and the average international freight load factor declined by 1.9 percentage points to 64.5%, on the back of a 6.4% expansion in offered freight capacity. Asia Pacific carriers still recorded a 3.4% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand, measured in FTKs, in June.
"Overall, the first half of the year saw the region's airlines register a solid 8% increase in the total number of international passengers carried to 176m," said AAPA Director General, Andrew Herdman. "Within the same period, international air cargo demand registered an encouraging 5% increase, bolstered by further expansion in the manufacturing sectors, although growth in new export orders has slowed in recent months."
Looking ahead, Herdman remarked that global economic prospects remain positive despite some concern over the possible adverse effects of trade tariffs. "Airfares are edging higher reflecting the impact of higher fuel prices this year, but demand conditions remain relatively favourable," he commented.
