Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Preliminary released by the highlights a in international passenger markets, fueled by a during the .

The region’s airlines recorded a , carrying a total of in January. Demand, measured in , surged , significantly outpacing the . As a result, the rose , reaching an for the month.

Despite concerns over global trade uncertainties, into the new year. ahead of the festive season contributed to a , measured in . This growth builds on the recorded in .

Expansion in led to a . However, the dipped , settling at 55.2% for the month.

The AAPA’s January 2025 report underscores the continued resilience of air travel and cargo markets in the region, driven by seasonal demand and expanding capacity.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General, said, “The year began on a positive note for Asia Pacific carriers, with both international air passenger and cargo markets posting encouraging growth, underpinned by the timing of the Lunar New Year holidays.”

Mr. Menon added, “The relatively high load factors reflect strong demand but also ongoing capacity constraints, compounded by the grounding of aircraft due to engine issues and delays in aircraft deliveries. These challenges have contributed to an increase in expenditure on maintenance, aircraft leasing, and labour, while greater competition saw to lower yields and operating margins.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Menon concluded, “Growth prospects remain promising in the coming months, against a backdrop of steady expansion in global economic activity. However, ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions pose potential risks to both business sentiment and consumer demand in the months ahead. The region’s airlines are closely monitoring developments, whilst carefully managing costs to boost operating economics.”