The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines reported strong growth in international travel for March 2025. This upward trend highlights the region’s continued recovery and expanding air travel demand. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines recorded a 6.9% increase in international passengers compared to last year.
Asia Pacific carriers transported over 30 million international passengers during the month. Demand for longer routes also grew, driving a 9% rise in revenue passenger kilometers. Travelers embraced long-haul flights as borders reopened and global travel restrictions eased. Airlines responded quickly, adding more flights and expanding their networks to meet this rising demand.
Carriers increased available seat capacity by 11%, allowing them to serve key high-traffic routes. However, the load factor fell slightly to 80.8%. This dip suggests airlines had more seats than filled bookings. Still, they maintained healthy utilization and continued to invest in growth.
Air freight also performed well, showing a 5.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Global businesses rushed shipments due to expected trade policy shifts, especially from the U.S. Cargo capacity rose by 4.7%, supporting the stronger shipping demand across the region.
In the first quarter of 2025, Asia Pacific airlines carried over 95 million international travelers. This marked a 13% increase from the same period in 2024. The cargo sector also grew by 5% in Q1, driven by e-commerce and proactive shipping ahead of tariffs.
However, ongoing supply chain issues and aircraft delays challenge future growth. Airlines also face rising costs for maintenance, leasing, and staffing. Despite these hurdles, carriers aim to scale efficiently while enhancing customer service and expanding global reach.
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