ASIA PACIFIC. International passenger traffic among Asia Pacific airlines returned to marginal growth in September, ending five consecutive months of year-on-year declines, according to preliminary figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
The region’s airlines carried 30.4 million international passengers during the month, up +0.7% year-on-year, although performance remained uneven across markets.
Long-haul routes continued to outperform, partly benefitting from travellers opting for itineraries that bypass Middle East hubs.
Capacity reductions, meanwhile, weighed on passenger volumes across some routes.
Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased +5.9% year-on-year, while available seat capacity rose +6.8%.
The average international passenger load factor consequently slipped by -0.6 percentage points to 80.2%.
For the first nine months of 2026, Asia Pacific airlines carried 289.5 million international passengers, an increase of +1.9% compared with the corresponding period last year.
AAPA Director General Wong Hong noted September saw passenger numbers increase slightly year-on-year, with “stronger growth in longer-haul travel”.
The figures reflected continued adjustments to airline capacity and shifting travel patterns across the region, against a challenging operating backdrop.
Wong cautioned, “Nevertheless, elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies continue to put pressure on operating costs and profitability.”
Looking ahead, Wong said the approaching year-end holiday season is expected to support passenger demand, offering a potential boost to travel retail spending across the region. ✈
