Preliminary traffic figures
from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)
for November 2022, show robust growth in international passenger markets, buoyed by
strong ongoing revival in both leisure and business travel demand
as a result of the progressive lifting of travel restrictions in
the region.
A combined total of 13.4 million international
passengers were carried by the region’s airlines in November, 7.6
times more than the 1.8 million recorded in the same month last
year.
In revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) terms,
demand jumped 499.2% year-on-year, significantly outpacing the
187.1% expansion in available seat capacity and leading to a 40.3
percentage point jump in the average international passenger load factor to 77.4%
for the month, close to levels achieved pre-pandemic.
Subhas Menon, AAPA
Director General said, “Asian carriers continued to enjoy robust
recovery in international travel markets approaching the end of
2022, in tandem with the progressive removal of pandemic-driven
border control measures. Overall, the first eleven months of the
year saw a near six-fold jump in the combined number of
international passengers carried to an aggregate total of 87.5
million. Nevertheless, in November, demand averaged only 43% of
2019 levels, indicating significant progress still required
towards full recovery.”
By contrast, the air cargo business segment faced
further weakness in demand conditions. Amid still elevated cost
pressures, declining new export orders precipitated a steep 19.2%
year-on-year decline in international air cargo demand, as
measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) in November.
Offered
freight capacity fell by 7.6% year-on-year, leading to a 9.3
percentage point drop in the average international freight load
factor to 63.9% for the month.
International air cargo demand
has declined 6.9% during the first eleven months of the year,
affected by the continued downturn in the global manufacturing
sector as a result of inflationary pressures and depressed
business confidence levels.
“Despite a clouded
macroeconomic outlook, the strong need for connectivity and desire
to travel will drive further recovery in the region’s
international travel markets over the year ahead. Notably, the
recent reopening of China’s borders with quarantine-free travel
after nearly three years of strict virus containment policies will
markedly improve demand prospects, given China’s significant trade
and tourism links with the region’s economies and beyond,” Mr. Menon said. “Unfortunately, the re-imposition
of travel restrictions by some governments for inbound travellers
from China may hamper the smooth resumption of air travel
patterns, and result in confusion for many travellers. Coherent, harmonised travel measures in line with established ICAO
guidelines, and close co-operation between governments and
aviation stakeholders, are vital in ensuring a smooth and seamless
travel experience.”
