July 06, 2026
Preliminary traffic figures for the month of May released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed a moderation in international passenger traffic growth. Meanwhile, international air cargo markets continued to expand, supported by stockpiling activity as businesses sought to safeguard against potential supply disruptions and higher costs arising from the conflict in the Middle East.
In May, the region's carriers carried a combined total of 31.7 million international passengers, a 1.1% decline compared to the same month last year.
International air cargo markets continued to expand, boosted by stockpiling activity and increased shipments of technology products.
Demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by 2.5% year-on-year in May, while offered freight capacity expanded by 3.3%, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 61.6% for the month.
Source: AAPA