Asian air traffic grows in June
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Airlines in the Asia Pacific achieved a 5.5% rise in passenger traffic on international routes in June 2013.
According to the latest data from IATA, the region’s airlines performed well during the month, accounting for almost half of global growth in terms of traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres, or RPK) during the month. This growth was driven by – although failed to match – a 6.7% increase in available seat capacity, while the region’s average load factor stood at 79.0%.
IATA noted that “slower than expected economic growth in China during the first half of 2013, coupled with a decline in both trade and export orders, are negatively impacting travel across the region”.
But despite this, Asia Pacific still outperformed the other major markets in terms of growth. European carriers experienced a 4.7% rise in traffic in June while among North American airlines the growth rate was just 3.4%.
Emerging markets however, saw stronger results. Airlines in the Middle East (+12.1%), Africa (+11.2%) and Latin America (+8.7%) all performed well. Globally, passenger traffic increased 6.0% in June, outpacing a 5.6% expansion of seat capacity. This pushed worldwide passenger load factors to a strong average of 81.7%.
“June was a positive month for passenger markets… [and] the load factor at 81.7% shows that airlines are efficiently meeting increasing demand for travel.” said IATA’s director-general & CEO, Tony Tyler.
“But there are some headwinds. Growth in the BRICS economies, including China, is slowing. And oil prices remain high. The industry is still on track to make US$4 per passenger this year for a global net profit of US$12.7 billion. But there is little margin for error and even a small change in the second half of the year could shift the outlook significantly,” he added.
Global domestic passenger traffic increased 6.1% in June, on a 5.2% rise in capacity, allowing load factors to climb to 82.0%. Despite IATA’s concerns over the Chinese economy, the country’s domestic traffic surged 14.6% while loads factor stood at a healthy 81.5%. And this was backed up by strong growth in India, which saw domestic passenger traffic rise 7.7% and load factors reach 81.5%.
Japanese domestic traffic climbed 6.9%, but load factors remain very weak, at just 59.5%. By contrast, domestic load factors in the US have now reached 87.1%, reflecting a steady 2.4% rise in demand and very careful management of capacity.
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