China reports single-digit air passenger growth and further freight declines in Oct-2011
China's passenger growth increased at a rate of 7.5% year-on-year in Oct-2011, according to CAAC data, marking the fifth consecutive month of single-digit growth and a slowdown from Sep-2011's 9.5% increase. Aug-2011's growth rate of just 4.5% was the slowest pace of expansion since Sep-2008 and there have been only two months of double-digit passenger growth this year. Passenger traffic in China has grown by an average 15.3% p/a over the past decade, or around three times the world average for the same period. So 2011 is definitely a below par performance.
The freight market however has been much worse. Traffic fell 6.3% in Oct-2011 to 469,400 tonnes.
Cargo volumes have declined on a year-on-year basis in six of the ten reported months of 2011. Domestic cargo volumes remained virtually unchanged (-0.2% year-on-year) from Oct-2010 levels, but double-digit freight reductions were seen on regional (Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan) and international routes, of 15.6% and 17.3%, respectively, in Oct-2011.
See related article: Airlines and airports feeling impact of global economic weakness with continued freight pressures
CAAC cargo volume (tonnes) and year-on-year change: Oct-2010 to Oct-2011
Note: Green = cargo volume; yellow = year-on-year change
Source: CAAC
Passenger growth slowing - international performing better than domestic
While noting that passenger traffic has seen "steady growth" in the month, CAAC data revealed international routes are performing better than domestic and regional sectors. Over the past two years, this has generally been the case in all but a few months.
CAAC domestic passenger numbers growth vs international passenger numbers growth: Jan-2010 to Oct-2011
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation & CAAC
International (excl. Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan) passenger numbers (10,000s) and year-on-year change (%): Aug-2010 to Oct-2010
Note: Blue = passenger numbers; dark green = year-on-year change
Source: CAAC
Regional (Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan) passenger numbers (10,000s) and year-on-year change (%): Aug-2010 to Oct-2010
Note: Orange = passenger numbers; green = year-on-year change
Source: CAAC
Domestic passenger numbers increased 7.3% year-on-year to 24.5 million in Oct-2011, with growth of 7.4% to 652,000 passengers on regional routes and growth of 10.5% to 1.9 million passengers on international sectors.
CAAC domestic passenger numbers (10,000s) and year-on-year change (%): Aug-2010 to Oct-2010
Note: Blue = passenger numbers; red = year-on-year change
Source: CAAC
The China market, however, remains strongly domestic focused. Domestic capacity comprises 79% of total seat share.
China international vs domestic capacity share (seats): 05-Dec-2011 to 11-Dec-2011
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation & Innovata
Load factors remain above 80% for ninth consecutive month
CAAC noted that load factors continued to be at "a high level". Load factors averaged 82.6%, a 0.5% month-on-month increase. Total load factors weakened 0.6 ppts on a month-on-month basis to 72.3%, driven down by weaker and weakening freight load factors.
CAAC load factor development - passenger load factors and total load factors (%): Oct-2010 to Oct-2011
Note: Blue = passenger load factors; red = total load factors
Source: CAAC
IATA, upon the release of its Oct-2011 traffic, stated Chinese domestic load factors stood at 83.1%. This marked an 8 ppt increase in load factor levels achieved only three years ago, and "has played an important role in improving the profitability of Chinese airlines", IATA said.
China and other key market domestic load factors (%) by country: Sep-2011 vs Oct-2011
Source: IATA Oct-2011 monthly traffic statistics
China is the second largest domestic market after the US. As noted by IATA in its traffic statistics for Oct-2011, domestic traffic (RPKs) in China increased at a rate of 8.4% in Oct-2011, down from 9.7% in Sep-2011. This traffic increase was "slightly below the capacity expansion of 8.8%," IATA said.
China and other key market traffic (RPKs) growth by country: Sep-2011 vs Oct-2011
Source: IATA Oct-2011 monthly traffic statistics
Strong capacity growth ahead
According to OAG FACTS data for Nov-2011, domestic capacity in mainland China will increase by 10% year-on-year in Nov-2011. China's international capacity will see an even sharper increase of 12%, equating to 845,307 additional international seats. Monthly frequencies are up 9.5% year-on-year in the domestic market (including Hong Kong and Macau markets) with a 12.2% increase in international frequency. Domestic frequencies have increased by 196% over the past decade, with an 116% increase in international frequencies between Nov-2002 and Nov-2011.
China domestic (including Hong Kong and Macau) frequency: Nov-2002 to Nov-2011
Source: UBM Aviation
China international (including Hong Kong and Macau) frequency: Nov-2002 to Nov-2011
Source: UBM Aviation
Long-term forecasts unchanged
Amid deteriorating global economic conditions, the CAAC in Oct-2011 cut its official air traffic forecast for 2011. China's passenger growth forecast was cut from 13% to 8% this year to 288 million passengers - 13.4 million fewer passengers than previously anticipated - but up from 267 million last year. The air cargo growth forecast was dramatically slashed from growth of 11.5% to flat in 2011, a repeat of 2008 when world economic growth faltered. China's airlines are now expected to handle 5.6 million tonnes of airfreight, against 6.4 million tonnes forecast previously.
But China's long-term growth forecasts remain unchanged, with 450 million passengers still expected by 2015, despite the impact of high-speed rail.
CAAC passenger numbers and growth forecast
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation & various
2010 was clearly a banner year of recovery after the downturn in 2008/09, but 2011's volumes have been well below expectation, particularly since the middle of the year.
CAAC freight traffic (million tonnes) and growth forecast
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation & various
As noted by OAG FACTS this month, China continues to exhibit stronger growth than the global average, as has been the case for some time. China's largest carriers - China Southern, China Eastern, Air China, Xiamen Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Hainan Airlines - have all shown growth in departures domestically and internationally year-on-year in Nov-2011 - and this trend is likely to continue well into 2012. But whether load factors, yields - and therefore profitability - hold up is a different question.
Background Information
CAAC traffic highlights in Oct-2011:
- Passenger numbers: 26.4 million, +7.5% year-on-year;
- Passenger load factor: 82.6, -0.4 ppt;
- Cargo volume: 469,400 tonnes, -6.3%;
CAAC passenger traffic growth (%): Oct-2010 to Oct-2011
Note: Blue = RTKs; green = cargo volume; red = passenger numbers
Source: CAAC
CAAC passenger numbers growth vs cargo volume growth: Jan-2010 to Oct-2011
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation & CAAC