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Cathay Pacific releases combined traffic figures for October 2012

Cathay Pacific Airways today released combined Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for October 2012 that show a small increase in passenger numbers compared to the same month last year, albeit with a drop in load factor. Cargo and mail tonnage showed a year-on-year increase for the second month in a row.

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,405,027 passengers in October – an increase of 1.0% compared to the same month last year. The passenger load factor fell by 1.8 percentage points to 78.3%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), dropped by 3.1%. For the year to date, passenger numbers have risen by 5.4% compared to a capacity increase of 4.1%.

The two airlines carried 138,608 tonnes of cargo and mail last month, an increase of 1.9% compared to October 2011. The cargo and mail load factor fell by 2.2 percentage points to 64.0%. Capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, rose by 0.5%, while cargo and mail tonne kilometres flown dropped by 2.8%. For the year to date, tonnage has declined by 7.3% against a capacity drop of 4.3%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management James Tong said: “Our capacity in October showed a decline for the second consecutive month as a result of the trimming of a number of long-haul frequencies introduced in September. We continue to strengthen our regional services, however, with flights to Haikou recommencing in late October. The pick-up in demand in premium cabins was slow last month. Passenger demand in the Economy cabin held up reasonably well for long-haul flights but was soft in the region. Yield remained under pressure in a highly competitive environment.”

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing James Woodrow said: “We saw a small uptick in demand in October, driven by the launch of a number of new hi-tech consumer products out of key manufacturing centres in the region. Following a lull in demand over the long National Day holiday period in Mainland China, we were therefore able to operate close to a full freighter schedule by the end of the month. However, in the longer term, demand from Asia to Europe will continue to be affected by the economic fragility in a number of euro-zone countries.”

CATHAY PACIFIC / DRAGONAIR
COMBINED TRAFFIC
Oct2012 % change vs Oct11 Cumulative Oct2012 % change
YTD

RPK (000)
China 686,249 1.5% 6,643,609 6.5%
North East Asia 994,371 0.2% 10,138,576 11.8%
South East Asia 1,196,953 11.4% 11,710,797 7.2%
India, Middle East, Pakistan & Sri Lanka 659,465 -2.9% 6,957,865 -1.8%
South West Pacific & South Africa 1,166,675 -9.2% 11,657,242 -1.4%
North America 2,128,423 -13.1% 24,339,612 6.1%
Europe 1,518,431 -9.0% 15,553,702 -3.0%
RPK Total (000) 8,350,567 -5.4% 87,001,403 3.4%
Passengers carried 2,405,027 1.0% 24,078,688 5.4%
Cargo and mail tonne km (000) 781,520 -2.8% 7,275,804 -9.1%
Cargo and mail carried (000Kg) 138,608 1.9% 1,274,788 -7.3%
Number of flights 5,923 7.6% 56,631 6.9%
CATHAY PACIFIC / DRAGONAIR COMBINED CAPACITY Oct2012 % change
vs Oct2011
Cumulative
Oct2012
% change
YTD

ASK (000)
China 980,441 8.2% 9,134,338 8.1%
North East Asia 1,457,517 15.0% 14,085,208 13.2%
South East Asia 1,567,129 14.6% 14,859,958 12.0%
India, Middle East, Pakistan & Sri Lanka 928,100 -6.9% 9,188,827 -3.2%
South West Pacific & South Africa 1,469,408 -5.5% 15,262,381 -2.0%
North America 2,452,068 -17.4% 27,839,735 6.5%
Europe 1,812,771 -7.0% 18,175,178 -4.1%
ASK Total (000) 10,667,434 -3.1% 108,545,625 4.1%
Passenger load factor 78.3% -1.8pt 80.2% -0.4pt
Available cargo and mail tonne km (000) 1,220,426 0.5% 11,386,363 -4.3%
Cargo and mail load factor 64.0% -2.2pt 63.9% -3.4pt
ATK (000) 2,234,783 -1.2% 21,708,512 -0.5%