Cathay Pacific (Group) transports 29 million pax in 2012, premium traffic 'weaker than expected'

Cathay Pacific (Group) passenger numbers up 3% - traffic highlights:

• Dec-2012:
  
  • Passenger numbers: 2.5 million, +2.5% year-on-year;
  • Passenger traffic (RPKs): -3.1%;
    • China: +1.8%;
    • Northeast Asia: -1.0%;
    • Southeast Asia: +12.4%;
    • India, Middle East, Pakistan and Sri Lanka: -7.2%;
    • Europe: -3.3%;
    • Southwest Pacific and South Africa: -5.5%;
    • North America: -10.4%;
  • Passenger load factor: 80.7%, +1.1 ppts;
  • Cargo volume: 146,897, +3.4%;
  • Cargo load factor: 67.4%, -0.4 ppts;
• 2012:
  
  • Passenger numbers: 29.0 million, +5.0%;
  • Passenger traffic (RPKs): +2.3%;
    • China: +6.1%;
    • Northeast Asia: +9.2%;
    • Southeast Asia: +8.1%;
    • India, Middle East, Pakistan and Sri Lanka: -2.0%;
    • Europe: -3.1%;
    • Southwest Pacific and South Africa: -2.8%;
    • North America: +3.3%;
  • Passenger load factor: 80.1%, -0.3 ppt;
  • Cargo volume: 1.6 million tonnes, +5.3%;
  • Cargo load factor: 64.2%, -3.0 ppts. [more - original PR]

Cathay Pacific: "Our passenger capacity showed a year-on-year decline for the fourth month in a row, though the number of extra sectors operated over the Christmas peak was on a par with December 2011. Passenger demand held up in the Economy cabin in December, with high numbers travelling to key regional destinations over the holiday period. The reduction in capacity helped to push up yield on long-haul routes; however, the overall performance in the premium cabins was weaker than expected," James Tong, GM revenue management. Source: Company statement, 17-Jan-2013.