July 2024 air traffic in Asia up 22.6pc: AAPA

Kuala Lumpur : The preliminary July 2024 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines showed healthy growth in international air passenger markets.

Regional initiatives to encourage travel continued to yield positive results, with the relaxation of visa policies underpinning a significant rise in leisure travellers during the peak summer holiday season.

For the month, a total of 31.9 million international passengers were carried by Asian airlines, representing a 22.6 per cent year-on-year increase. The steady growth brought traffic volumes to 95.5 per cent of the levels seen in the same month of 2019.

Available seat capacity expanded by 21.2 per cent, marginally surpassing the 20.5 per cent increase in demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK). As a result, the average international passenger load factor decreased marginally by 0.6 percentage points to 82.6 per cent in July.

Commenting on the results, Subhas Menon, Director General, AAPA, said, "The strong demand trend observed in the first half of the year carried into July, with Asian airlines reporting growth in both international passenger and cargo markets. Overall, during the first seven months of the year, the number of international passengers carried grew by a solid 39 per cent to 208 million, supported by network expansions."

Looking ahead, Menon said, "Despite ongoing supply chain disruptions, the outlook for travel markets remains positive, as Asia Pacific airlines continue to benefit from resilient business and leisure demand. In particular, China-based airlines are experiencing solid growth in passenger demand as traffic in China recovers, driving overall expansion."

Menon further added, "In response to passenger demand in a dynamic marketplace, Asian airlines are pursuing new revenue opportunities by launching innovative products and services. At the same time, the region's carriers continue to be focused on improving operational efficiency and intensifying sustainability initiatives, while maintaining profitability."