The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has reported a mixed performance for May 2026, with international passenger traffic experiencing a slight decline whilst cargo markets expanded.

The region's airlines carried 31.7 million international passengers, marking a 1.1% decrease compared to May 2025. However, demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose by 1.8%, driven by stronger traffic on longer-haul routes. Despite some airlines adjusting their international services, the average passenger load factor increased by 1.2 percentage points to 82.0%.

In contrast, international air cargo markets showed growth, fuelled by stockpiling and increased shipments of technology products. Freight tonne kilometres (FTK) grew by 2.5% year-on-year, whilst freight capacity expanded by 3.3%, leading to a slight decline in the freight load factor to 61.6%.

Wong Hong, Director General of AAPA, noted, “International passenger markets remained broadly stable in May, with firm demand on longer-haul routes. Meanwhile, air cargo demand continued to grow, supported by technology-related shipments and precautionary stockpiling activity.”

For the first five months of 2026, Asia Pacific airlines transported 166.8 million international passengers, a 3.9% increase from the same period in 2025. Cargo demand rose by 4.7%, reflecting the need for timely goods movement amidst disruptions.

Looking forward, Wong Hong highlighted potential relief from easing Middle East tensions but warned of ongoing challenges such as geopolitical uncertainties, trade policy shifts, and rising inflation. He emphasised the agility of Asia Pacific carriers in adapting to demand changes and maintaining cost discipline to capture growth opportunities

This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.