International air travel demand in APAC approaches pre-pandemic levels | LARA

Demand for international air travel in the Asia Pacific region has reached near pre-pandemic levels and is set to grow further, new figures reveal.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) today reported strong growth in international air passenger demand for August 2024.

The Association said the region’s airlines collectively carried 32.3 million international passengers, representing a 21.7% increase compared to the same month last year, bringing traffic volumes to 96.1% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

The increase was driven by resilient economic growth in the region, along with increased air connectivity and less restrictive visa policies.

AAPA Director General, Subhas Menon, said that the region’s carriers saw a 36% growth in the number of international passengers carried in the first eight months of the year, reaching a total of 240 million.

Looking ahead, Mr. Menon said, “Supported by ongoing expansions in connectivity, travel demand is expected to remain healthy on routes within and across the regions.”

However, he pointed out that persistent supply chain disruptions were a challenge for the region’s carriers.

“Delays in aircraft deliveries, shortages of spare parts, and a lack of skilled labour have heightened operational pressures, contributing to flight disruptions and increased costs.

“Faced with such external pressures, airlines are carefully managing flight frequencies and schedules, without compromising the industry’s excellent safety standards,” he said.

Photo: Charles Pertwee/Bloomberg