Asia Pacific Airlines See Rising Freight Demand

Asia Pacific airlines saw a rise in international freight load factors for the fourth consecutive month in August, despite ongoing supply chain disruptions. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), a trade association of major scheduled international airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region reported a 12.2% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand, surpassing a 10.4% increase in capacity. This boosted the freight load factor to 59.6%. E-commerce growth and ocean freight delays are driving businesses to shift to air transport. While the outlook remains positive with inventory replenishment for the festive season, airlines face challenges from supply chain disruptions, such as delays in aircraft deliveries and labor shortages.