DALLAS — The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported significant growth in international air travel and cargo for April 2024, reflecting a strong rebound in the sector.

The AAPA, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur with representation in Brussels and Washington, D.C., represents airlines that account for over one-third of global passenger and air cargo traffic, playing a pivotal role in global aviation development. Here are the stats:

Passenger Traffic Surge, Cargo Momentum

In April 2024, a total of 28 million international passengers were carried by Asia Pacific airlines, marking a 32% increase compared to April 2023.

The demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), rose by 33.7% year-on-year, indicating a robust recovery, especially in long-haul routes. Available seat capacity expanded by 30.4%, and the average international passenger load factor increased by 2.1 percentage points to 81.6%.

The air cargo market also saw positive developments. International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTK), grew by 13.7% compared to the same month last year.

Freight capacity expanded by 14.4%, slightly reducing the average international freight load factor by 0.4 percentage points to 59.9%.

Economic, Travel Insights, Outlook

AAPA Director General, Mr. Subhas Menon, highlighted the influence of improved economic sentiment and high demand on key routes connecting Asia with Europe and the Southwest Pacific.

He also noted that intra-regional travel remained strong due to relaxed visa policies and ongoing economic growth in the region. For the first four months of 2024, the total number of international passengers carried increased by 51%, reaching 117 million.

Looking ahead, Mr. Menon expressed optimism about the continued growth in passenger and cargo markets, driven by positive business and consumer confidence. However, he also pointed out potential challenges, such as supply chain constraints, higher operational costs, and geopolitical tensions, which could impact the industry's outlook.

Despite these concerns, the region's carriers are committed to enhancing operational efficiency, sustainable growth, and maintaining high safety standards.

The featured image shows PK-GFX (From Nature to Future Livery), a Garuda Indonesia (GA) Boeing 737-800 WIMM KNO.