Preliminary figures released yesterday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) for calendar 2011 show ‘steady growth’ in international scheduled air passenger demand, with Asia Pacific airlines up +3.5% to 189.9m international passengers in 2011, although slightly worrying was a weakening of international air-freight markets after a strong rebound in 2010
 

 

 

The AAPA said that the region’s sustained economic growth supported both business and leisure travel demand, with international passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms) up +3.7%. There was also a 2% fall in the average international passenger load factor, to 76.4%.

 

Asia Pacific international air cargo demand, expressed in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms, fell by 4.8% in 2011, a reflection, said AAPA, of weakening world trade conditions. Having said that, freight demand matched that of the previous year.

 

Over the same calendar year period, international passenger numbers handled in the month of December 2011 also rose by +4% to 16.5m, compared with 15.9m in calendar year 2010.

 

GROWTH HELD UP ‘RELATIVELY WELL’

Commenting on the results, Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General said: “Despite a series of natural disasters, including the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, growth in international passenger traffic for Asian airlines held up relatively well in 2011.

 

“By contrast, the year saw air cargo demand weaken significantly compared to the restocking surge experienced in 2010, reflecting cautious management of supply chain inventories in the expectation of relatively weaker growth prospects for the major developed economies.

 

“Uncertainty over prospects for the global economy in 2012 has somewhat overshadowed the immediate outlook and airlines worldwide are bracing themselves for another challenging year ahead.

 

“Overall, however, Asian airlines still remain optimistic about longer-term growth prospects, as evidenced by ambitious fleet plans, ongoing service enhancements, and the launch of innovative new business ventures.”