Asia-Pacific powers global airline growth

07th July 2011

---

The Asia-Pacific region continues to drive global airline growth with almost 100 million seats scheduled to be flown this month.

Figures from aviation intelligence specialist OAG show that more than 99 million seats have been scheduled in the region for July – up by 6% year on year and an 11% rise in the number of flights. Capacity within Europe and North America is 82.8 million and 81.8 million seats respectively.

Asia-Pacific is also outperforming other areas of the world on frequencies and seat capacity to and from the region, with 11% more flights and 9% more seats than in July 2010, according to OAG’s latest frequency and capacity trend statistics.

The world's airlines have scheduled 2.76 million flights this month with a total capacity of 351.4 million seats, representing increases of 3% and 5% respectively on July 2010 figures, the same percentage increases as in June. 

Increases in aircraft size continue to be a key driver of seat capacity growth and the average number of seats per flight is now 127 compared to 125 this time last year. Capacity in China grew by 5% year on year, maintaining the country's status as the second largest domestic market in the world after the US. Brazil lies some way behind China in third. China's international capacity has seen an even sharper increase with an additional 1.1 million seats compared to last July.

Delhi continues to be the fastest-growing hub in the Asia-Pacific region with frequencies up 20% and available seats increasing by 22%. Hanoi is one stop below on the global table.

Hanoi has seen frequencies increase by 28% and capacity by 21% to 1.33 million seats year on year. A significant proportion of this capacity has come from Qatar Airways' four times a week Doha-Hanoi service, which operates via Bangkok.
Peter von Moltke, chief executive of OAG parent UBM Aviation, said: “This steady growth, led largely by Asia, is encouraging for global trade and tourism which depends heavily on a buoyant aviation industry.

“The northern hemisphere is entering the busy summer holiday period and any nervousness about some eurozone countries doesn't appear to be affecting airline expectations of passenger demand. “Low cost and traditional carriers alike have scheduled around 5% more European capacity this month."