Growth in Passenger and Cargo Traffic

Preliminary figures for June 2025, released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), indicate continued growth in international passenger numbers, driven by rising travel demand as the mid-year holiday season approaches.

Key Highlights

• 31.2 million international passengers were carried, reflecting a 7.1% increase compared to last year.
• Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rose by 8.0% year-on-year.
• Available seat capacity increased by 8.5%, with a slight decline in the average international passenger load factor to 81.7%.

International air cargo also experienced a boost, with demand growing by 5.6% year-on-year, influenced by a recovery in global manufacturing, particularly in consumer and intermediate goods. The air cargo capacity increased by 7.1%.

Subhas Menon commented,

“During the first half of 2025, Asia Pacific airlines carried a total of 190.5 million international passengers, which is a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. International air cargo demand also recorded a relatively resilient 6% year-on-year growth.”

Positive Outlook

Menon expressed confidence in the outlook for travel markets in the near term, noting strong ticket bookings during the holiday season. However, he cautioned about potential inflation and varying global economic conditions impacting air travel and cargo sectors.