Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) director general Subhas Menon, speaking at Routes Asia 2025, stated (25-Mar-2025) the performance of the airline industry "matches the state of the global economy", noting the "symbiotic relationship" between the two. Mr Menon commented: "There is a lot of demand for air travel, especially in the Asia Pacific region". He reported that Asia Pacific tourist arrivals are growing "considerably more strongly" than other regions and Asia Pacific also outgrew other regions for traffic in 2024.
Background ✨
In 2024, Asia Pacific airlines saw a strong resurgence in passenger and cargo markets, with international passenger numbers increasing by 30.5% year-on-year. This growth was supported by increased flight frequencies and network expansions, despite facing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and aircraft delivery delays1. The recovery was further aided by robust consumer demand and the easing of visa policies, although rising operational costs and geopolitical uncertainties posed ongoing challenges2 3.