Asia Pacific based airlines carried a combined total of 17 million international passengers in August, a 3.9% increase over the same month last year. The revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) for international passenger traffic grew by 5.3%, reflecting good demand on long haul routes.

Available seat capacity grew by 6%, resulting in a slight 0.6 percentage point fall in the average international passenger load factor to 79.3%.

However, international air cargo demand for the region’s carriers was 5.8% lower compared to the same month last year.

Andrew Herdman, AAPA director general (pictured right) said Asia Pacific based airlines carried 126 million passengers for the first eight months of the year, 3.5% up on the same period last year.

“Passenger air travel demand is still quite strong, supported by continued growth in both business and leisure travel, but cargo markets remain weak. At the same time, airline margins are being pressured by high oil prices.”

Overall, Asia Pacific airlines are in a relatively favourable position, given many of the region’s economies are still reporting solid growth.

“However, the recent deterioration in the global economic outlook is cause for concern, and could potentially undermine both business and consumer confidence, leading to a more cautious view on medium term growth prospects,” Herdman added.