ASIA - Asia-Pacific carriers achieved stellar double-digit growth rates in passenger demand in 2010 that underpinned the gains in regional jet fuel usage. Latest data from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show that Asian airlines carried 16,331 passengers in December. That brings the total for 2010 to slightly above 185,000 - 13% higher than the previous year (JFI Jun.21,p1). In revenue passenger kilometer terms, passenger traffic grew by 9.8% in step with strong demand on regional routes, AAPA said. Average international passenger load factors improved by 4.4 percentage points to 74.4%. International air cargo grew for the first time since the global financial recession, rising by 24.2% in freight ton kilometers. Average international cargo load factors in 2010 hit a record of 70% despite a 15.5% expansion in capacity. "Reported monthly growth rates have naturally moderated as the recovery phase is completed, but encouragingly, both passenger and cargo traffic volumes have now surpassed their prerecession peaks," said Andrew Herdman, APPA's director-general.
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