ASIA PACIFIC. International air passenger traffic in Asia Pacific reached 33.5 million in October, representing a sharp +10.2% rise year-on-year, fuelled by strong growth on routes linking Northeast Asia.
Preliminary October 2025 data released today (27 November) by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) point to sustained global passenger growth, driven by stronger tourism and business travel.
Demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rose +10.7%, outpacing a 9.3% year-on-year rise in available seat capacity. This contributed to a 1.0 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor, bringing it to 82.4% in October.
AAPA Director General Subhas Menon commented, “Asia Pacific airlines began the final quarter on stable ground, supported by continued expansion in the services sectors, while Asia’s export activity remained resilient as businesses diversified supply sources in response to trade tariffs.
“Overall, the number of international passengers carried increased by +10.4% to 322 million for the year to October.”
Looking ahead, Menon said: “Broad-based growth in the global economy should underpin continued growth in both passenger and cargo markets in the coming months. However, this outlook is moderated by ongoing geopolitical and trade risks, despite relatively stable business confidence.
“In an increasingly competitive economic environment, Asian carriers remain committed to strengthening financial performance through improved efficiency, without compromising safety excellence or customer care standards.” ✈
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