Asia Pacific airlines carried 30.5 million international passengers in June 2026, a 1.1% year-over-year decline, according to preliminary traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. The Kuala Lumpur-based industry group attributed the softening to capacity reductions and higher airfares in some regional markets following a spike in fuel prices.
While overall passenger numbers slipped, demand measured in revenue passenger kilometers still rose 1.1% year-over-year, a sign that longer-haul travel remained comparatively resilient. That growth outpaced a modest 0.3% increase in available seat capacity, pushing the average international passenger load factor up 0.7 percentage points to 82.6% for the month.
International air cargo presented a different picture. International freight demand, measured in freight ton kilometers, climbed 3.2% year-over-year in June, helped by steady shipments of AI-related semiconductors and hardware. Freight capacity grew only slightly, up 0.2%, which lifted the average international freight load factor by 1.8 percentage points to 62.6%.
Wong Hong, who assumed the role of Director General at AAPA in April 2026, said passenger traffic eased in June as airlines in some markets raised fares and pulled back capacity. He noted that international travel has largely held steady this year, with airlines in the region carrying 192.5 million international passengers in the first half of 2026, up 3.2% from the same period last year.
He pointed to cargo as a bright spot, saying that international air cargo demand grew 7.0% in the first half of the year, crediting that growth to continued demand for AI-related semiconductor shipments and other high-value, time-sensitive goods. Looking forward, he cited uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict fueling fuel price volatility, softer business confidence, and elevated geopolitical and trade policy risks that could slow growth in both travel and air cargo in the coming months.
