KUALA LUMPUR: Asia Pacific airlines carried 30.4 million international passengers in September 2026, up 0.7 per cent from a year earlier.
Air cargo demand grew 6.4 per cent, according to preliminary figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
AAPA director general Wong Hong said passenger numbers increased following five consecutive months of year-on-year declines with stronger growth in longer-haul travel and international air cargo demand.
“September saw passenger numbers increase slightly compared to a year earlier with stronger growth in longer-haul travel, while air cargo demand gained momentum,” he said in a statement.
AAPA said passenger traffic remained uneven across markets with capacity reductions contributing to lower passenger numbers on some routes.
However, longer-haul markets continued to grow, partly supported by passengers choosing routes that avoided Middle East hubs.
International passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased 5.9 per cent year-on-year, while available seat capacity expanded 6.8 per cent.
AAPA said this resulted in a 0.6 percentage point decline in the average international passenger load factor to 80.2 per cent.
On air cargo, AAPA said stronger global manufacturing activity, increased purchases of raw materials and components, and sustained demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related goods supported growth.
International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), rose 6.4 per cent year-on-year, exceeding the 4.9 per cent increase in available freight capacity.
The average international freight load factor increased 0.8 percentage points to 60.3 per cent.
For the first nine months of 2026, Asia Pacific airlines carried 289.5 million international passengers, up 1.9 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
International passenger demand, measured in RPK, rose 4.6 per cent during the period, while air cargo demand increased 5.6 per cent.
Wong said passenger markets continued to adjust to changes in capacity and travel patterns, while stronger manufacturing activity and demand for AI-related goods supported cargo traffic.
He said elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies continued to put pressure on airlines’ operating costs and profitability.
Wong said year-end holiday travel should support passenger demand, while continued investment in AI infrastructure and related trade flows was expected to benefit air cargo markets.
However, he said higher travel and shipping costs could affect growth, while geopolitical tensions and changes in trade policies remained key uncertainties.
AAPA’s member airlines include Malaysia Airlines Bhd, Air Astana, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Lion Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and Vietnam Airlines.