Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), has determined that the measured revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), shot up with 4.2%. It was also estimated that the first eight months of this year has catered to 168 million international passengers.

According to the latest data from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), grew 4.2%, but this failed to keep pace with a 6.1% expansion of available seat capacity, causing average load factors to drop 1.6 percentage points to 80.7% for the month.

“Overall, for Asian airlines, the demand outlook markets remains positive, sustained by regional economic growth and continued improvement in the global economy,” said Andrew Herdman, director general of the AAPA. “Nevertheless, the region’s carriers are still facing very challenging business conditions, as surplus capacity and an intensely competitive pricing environment have constrained revenue growth and led to further erosion of margins. “Airlines are carefully reviewing their fleet and network development plans, whilst maintaining a tight rein on costs in a bid to restore profitability and sustain further investments for the future,” he added. For the first eight months of this year, the region’s airlines carried a combined total of 168 million international passengers, a rise of 4.5% year-on-year.

Source from <Travel Daily Asia>