Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon carried a total of 2,950,532 passengers last month, an increase of 0.9% compared to October 2017. The passenger load factor increased 0.3 percentage points to 81.6%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 3.8%. In the first ten months of 2018, the number of passengers carried grew by 1.9% while capacity increased by 3.1%.

The two airlines carried 192,522 tonnes of cargo and mail last month, an increase of 6.5% compared to the same month last year. The cargo and mail load factor rose by 1.1 percentage points to 70.4%. Capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometres (AFTKs), was increased by 3.8% while cargo and mail revenue freight tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased by 5.4%. In the first ten months of 2018, the tonnage rose by 6.4% against a 3.1% increase in capacity and a 6.0% increase in RFTKs.

Cathay Pacific Director Commercial and Cargo Ronald Lam said: “Overall passenger revenue growth was marginally ahead of capacity growth in October. Passenger volumes were robust, particularly in our First and Business cabins where we saw strong load factors. However, yield in Economy Class continued to come under pressure due to unfavourable currency trends and an increased mix of lower fares.

“Overall cargo revenue performed very well during the month, with revenue growth well ahead of capacity growth. Demand was strong across the network, especially for new consumer products. A number of stations across Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent established new cargo revenue records. We expect this momentum to carry over into November, although we continue to closely monitor external factors that are having an impact on global trade flows.”