While international passenger traffic increased by nearly 8 percent among Asia-Pacific carriers last year, air cargo demand improved only slightly, reflecting an overall slowing of global trade, said the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
In its preliminary report for 2015, AAPA found that international air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) saw only a 1.6 percent increase for the year. Airfreight capacity increased by 3.5 percent in 2015, which led to a decrease in the average international freight load factor by 1.3 percent to 63.7 percent for the year.
“Asian airlines benefited in 2015 from the robust growth in international passenger traffic, and significant fall in oil prices, but competitive market conditions continued to restrain margins,” said Andrew Herdman, the director general of the AAPA.
Airline profitability was also affected by currency volatility, and variations in individual fuel hedging policies, among other factors, Herdman said. “Asian airlines are closely monitoring market developments, while continuing to invest in future growth opportunities,” he added.