Preliminary traffic figures for August released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) points to a robust recovery in international air passenger markets as travel demand has grown.
In August, Asian airlines carried a combined 13.1 million international passengers, representing 39% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Demand (in revenue passenger kilometres*) grew by 501.3%, while available seat capacity was up by 174.5% compared to August 2021. As a result, the international passenger load factor jumped by 42.3 points to 77.9%. For Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General, “the lifting of travel restrictions in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan will hasten the pace of the industry’s return to health, while full recovery is not expected until China is also open.”
* revenue passenger kilometres or RPK is the number of kilometres travelled by paying passengers.
Photo: Singapore Changi Terminal 3 (©: LC/Cleverdis)
