Asia Pacific international passenger growth continues in March despite economic headwinds

ASIA PACIFIC. Preliminary traffic data released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) revealed that airlines in the region served 31 million international passengers, marking a +7% year-on-year increase.

The latest results highlight a steady rise in international passenger markets, consistent with long-term historical trends.

International passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms rose +9%, while available seat capacity increased +11% year-on-year. As a result, the international passenger load factor decreased 0.4 percentage points, averaging 80.8%.

AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said, “Asia Pacific airlines carried a total of 95.6 million international passengers in the first quarter of 2025, a +13% year-on-year increase that marked a strong start to the year, following the solid +29% growth seen in 2024. This came on the back of international route expansion, liberalised visa regimes and resilient economic activity across the region.”

Looking ahead, Menon raised concerns about the impact on travel due to the tariff policies introduced by the US government. He said, “Operational challenges resulting from persistent supply chain issues, including aircraft delivery delays, continue to constrain capacity expansion.

“As a result, airlines face elevated operating costs, including high maintenance, leasing and personnel expenses. In response, Asia Pacific carriers remain focused on driving cost efficiencies, whilst continuing to expand their networks and pursue customer service innovation.”