KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): Asia Pacific airlines registered healthy growth in  international air passenger demand, whilst air cargo markets experienced an encouraging revival in demand after three consecutive years of declines, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

In a report released Jan 28, AAPA said a total of 256.1 million international passengers flew on the region's carriers in 2014, representing an annual increase of 4.8% from the previous year.

It said sustained growth in Asian regional economies, and robust trade activities supported by stronger US markets, helped underpin business and leisure travel demand.

“However, the combined 4.7% increase in international passenger traffic, in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, was slightly outpaced by a 6.0% expansion in available seat capacity, which led to a 1.0 percentage point decline in the average international passenger load factor to 77.0% for the year,” it said.

The AAPA said an upsurge in exports from manufacturing hubs in the region led to a rebound in international air cargo markets in 2014, with demand as expressed in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms growing by a solid 5.4% compared to the previous year.

It said available freight capacity grew at a relatively modest pace of 4.1%, resulting in a 0.8 percentage point increase in the average international freight load factor to 64.9%.

AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman said despite challenges, Asia Pacific airlines enjoyed a year of good growth in international passenger traffic in 2014.

He said passenger demand was healthy, underpinned by increasing numbers of middle income earners and further expansion in airline networks, which have all helped boost air travel within the region and beyond.

“However, passenger yields remained under pressure throughout the year, reflecting the intensely competitive market environment and some signs of overcapacity.

“Air cargo markets experienced a welcome upswing in 2014, with the second half of the year registering 6.0% growth compared to the same period in 2013, following several years of stagnant demand,” he said.

Herdman said the dramatic fall in oil prices since the end of the year had been welcomed by many airlines, although the resultant benefit in terms of improved profitability would vary depending on individual airline hedging policies and their degree of exposure to external debt, given the weaker Asian currencies.

He said that overall, the outlook for the coming year remained broadly positive, with sustained growth in the global economy continuing to drive air travel demand, whilst lower oil prices will also help to keep air travel affordable.

“However, airlines will need to closely monitor market movements, and align future capacity increases with the actual increase in demand, whilst seeking further operating efficiencies to restore margins to more sustainable levels,” he said.