Asia outlook remains relatively bright despite challenges: AAPA

The outlook for the Asian market remains relatively bright for 2013 despite a recent slowdown in traffic growth, challenging conditions in the cargo sector, stubbornly high oil prices and continued economic weakness in Europe. While it is unlikely the peak of 2010 will be reached anytime soon, Asia remains a dynamic and generally profitable high growth market that outperforms all other regions.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) recorded 4.9% growth in passenger traffic during 3Q2012, down from the 8.7% growth recorded in 1H2012. But AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman remained upbeat during the AAPA's annual Assembly of Presidents last week in Kuala Lumpur, saying that while traffic at its 15 members is "moderating a bit … it seems to be holding up pretty well".