AAPA airlines report easing pax decline in Sep-2009; recovery "fragile"

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reports (26-Oct-2009) the following international traffic highlights for its member airlines in Sep-2009:

• Passenger numbers: 10.8 million, -0.2% year-on-year;
• Passenger load factor: 76.4%, +4.1 ppts;
• Cargo traffic (FTKs): -6.5%. [more]

AAPA: "The September traffic figures offer some encouragement amidst signs of a continuing pickup in consumer confidence and economic activity, led by the Asia Pacific region. Nevertheless, airlines are still facing significant challenges...Shrinking traffic volumes, coupled with lower yields, led to sharply lower revenues and heavy losses for most carriers. Despite capacity cutbacks, and other cost reduction efforts, airlines are still struggling to restore profitability. Meanwhile, rising oil prices are driving up costs, and will act as a brake on the wider economy. Overall, as things stand now, the recovery still looks quite fragile," Andrew Herdman, Director General. Source: AAPA, 26-Oct-2009.