June 2020 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed that travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic almost completely ended international air travel in the region during Q2.
Asian airlines carried just 724,000 international passengers in June, a 98% decline compared to the 31.8 million recorded the same time last year.
Air cargo demand, in freight tonne kilometre (FTK) terms, was 20.3 percent lower year-on-year.
Offered freight capacity fell by 27.2% as most passenger aircraft were grounded, resulting in a 5.6% point increase in the average international freight load factor to 64.9% for the month.
“Overall, Asia-Pacific airlines carried a total of 61 million international passengers during the first half of 2020, representing a 68 percent fall compared to the same period last year,” said Subhas Menon, AAPA’s director general.
“International travel demand evaporated in the second quarter. Most flights were only operating to repatriate people to their home countries.
Meanwhile, air cargo demand declined by 16% during the first half of the year, reflecting the general deterioration in consumer and business confidence. The industry is in a perilous condition. International flights continue to be grounded by border closures and onerous quarantine requirements, even when domestic lockdowns are being eased.