Preliminary April 2026 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) indicate that international passenger demand remained stable, although growth moderated amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Asia Pacific airlines carried a combined total of 32.4 million international passengers in April, broadly unchanged from the same month last year. Measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), demand still grew by 3.3% year over year, reflecting relatively stronger traffic on longer-haul routes. Available seat capacity increased by just 1.4%, as airlines kept expansion in check following a sharp rise in fuel costs. As a result, international passenger load factors remained robust, averaging 84.8% for the month, up 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier.
At the same time, the conflict in the Middle East caused supply chain disruptions and pushed goods prices higher, leading businesses and consumers to accelerate stockpiling ahead of further cost increases. This trend supported growth in the air cargo market. International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTK), rose 4.1% year over year in April. Freight capacity increased by 4.4%, which led to a slight 0.2 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 60.5%.
Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Mr. Wong Hong said, “International passenger traffic continued to demonstrate resilience in April, supported by sustained demand on longer-haul routes. Overall, Asia Pacific airlines carried a combined total of 135 million international passengers during the first four months of the year, representing a 5.1% increase compared with the same period last year.”
He added, “The start of the second quarter also saw faster growth in global manufacturing activity, with stronger demand for consumer and intermediate goods boosting air shipment volumes. Growth in April helped lift international air cargo demand in the first four months of 2026 to 5.3%.”
Mr. Wong Hong further noted, “The conflict in the Middle East continues to create volatility in energy markets, keeping jet fuel prices elevated and adding to cost pressures for airlines. In April, jet fuel prices averaged US$165 per barrel, the highest levels seen since 2022 following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.”
Looking ahead, he said, “Although there are signs that the conflict may be easing, rising macroeconomic uncertainty and persistent inflationary pressures continue to weigh on the outlook for both passenger and air cargo markets in the months ahead. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific airlines remain focused on managing costs and carefully deploying capacity to optimize yields and profitability in this challenging operating environment, without compromising safety standards.”