AAPA – Passenger traffic recovery in January 2023 is 52% of pre-pandemic levels

The passenger traffic in Asia Pacific recovered to just 52% in January 2023 as compared to the pre-pandemic level of January 2019 revealed the report by Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). In January 2019, the region’s airlines carried 32.2 million passengers, compared to 17.2 million in January 2023. And airline capacity, as measured by available seat kilometers (ASKs), has only increased to 56% of 2019 levels. This is good for airlines’ passenger load factors and keeping prices high but not for generating quick increases in traveler numbers. Another key takeaway from the data is that in spite the opening of China border