Preliminary January 2023 traffic figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show steady growth in international passenger traffic.
Overall, the region’s airlines carried a combined 17.2 million international passengers in January, more than seven times the volumes recorded in the same month last year, when demand was still dampened by travel restrictions across the region.
Traffic as measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) jumped 466.9%, underpinned by robust regional travel demand. Available seat capacity also expanded markedly, but by a comparatively slower 195% year-on-year.
As a result, the average international passenger load factor increased significantly, by 39.1 percentage points to 81.5% for the month, returning to levels seen only before the onset of the pandemic.
Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General said, “International passenger markets enjoyed a strong start to the year in 2023. Strong demand buoyed by an increase in leisure travelers during the Lunar New Year holidays in the region, saw the number of passengers carried by Asia Pacific carriers in January, rise to 52.1% of pre-pandemic traffic levels in 2019.”
© Travel News Asia
10 Comments
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theResident
@RKL. Correct. Flew to London recently. First and Biz both 100% full. Prem and Eco..60% at best. I think a lot of people simply don't want to pay the the high fares for what they know they will get in economy.
RKL
theResidentMar. 9 06:20 pm JST
@RKL - Despite the prices, the premium cabins seem to be full on a lot of flights. Airlines have already warned that fares will NOT be going down anytime soon.
True--one, two years ago I was the only passenger in my cabin in 1st, and biz on several flights to the US and Asia.
I couldn't even get a window seat on my recent flight.
wallace
theResident
no hostel? No not non-stop flights which are difficult to book too far ahead. Lowest price 3 star hotel with flight is about ¥480,000 up to about ¥1,000,000 for 25 days. Economy class. I don't fly business. Maybe economy premium.
With my health issues, I am happy to have a stopover.
I was checking on the Expedia site.
With economy premium
https://www.expedia.co.jp/Hotel-Search?_endDate=2023-06-23&_startDate=2023-06-01&adults=2&airlineCode&cabinClass=PREMIUMECONOMY&destination=London%20%28and%20vicinity%29%2C%20England%2C%20United%20Kingdom&directFlights=false&endDate=2023-06-23&infantsInSeats=0&l10n=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&localDateFormat=yyyy%2FM%2Fd&misId=AgiNg5X11tOW2TQQsaS3ksLX28GHASC7oYM~ARIEGgIIAhozCAESFgoDTlJUGM6k0QIqCjIwMjMtMDYtMDESFQoDTE9OGOfwCioKMjAyMy0wNi0yMzAB&origin=Tokyo%2C%20Japan%20%28NRT-Narita%20Intl.%29&packageType=fh&partialStay=false®ionId=178279&searchProduct=hotel&semdtl=&sort=RECOMMENDED&startDate=2023-06-01&theme=&tripType=ROUND_TRIP&useRewards=false&userIntent=
theResident
@wallace - Love to know what kind of 'Hostel' you would be staying in for that kind of money for 25 days. With a flight thrown in! Serious question. Are these non-stop flights? Biz class fares are 750k on a GOOD day right now to Europe (non-stop)
wallace
Looking at reasonable deals to visit London this summer with the best-combining flight and hotel. About ¥500,000 each for about 25 days.
theResident
@RKL - Despite the prices, the premium cabins seem to be full on a lot of flights. Airlines have already warned that fares will NOT be going down anytime soon. @Eastman - Think you will be waiting for a while buddy.
RKL
NemoToday 06:41 pm JST
As long as there are people willing and able to pay (The economic definition of Demand) at a price that will fill the plane (an Average load factor of 81.5% is very high with the most popular routes being completely sold out), there is no reason why a for-profit business would lower ticket prices.
Paid $1800 one way biz on JAL from NY.
Worth it though.
Surprisingly, first class was full.
Nemo
As long as there are people willing and able to pay (The economic definition of Demand) at a price that will fill the plane (an Average load factor of 81.5% is very high with the most popular routes being completely sold out), there is no reason why a for-profit business would lower ticket prices.
Instead, airlines will first work to increase the supply of seats available by re-booting the aircraft that they have in long-term storage in the dessert and by purchasing new aircraft.
Shivaji
Yet flight tickets are sky high.
Eastman
next stage-time to lower prices for tickets.