Cathay Pacific and Dragonair passengers spike to 2.2 mln in June

Rates showed significant rise in both number of passengers and amount of cargo and mail carried due to summer peak.

Cathay Pacific Airways on Monday released combined Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for June 2010 showing significant year-on-year rises in both the number of passengers and amount of cargo and mail carried.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management Tom Owen said: "Demand in June remained high in the build-up to the summer peak, as we continued to restore capacity that was cut in response to the huge downturn in business in 2009. We enjoyed increases in volumes and yields compared to the previous year across most routes. Premium cabins saw a continuation of the pick-up off a low base in 2009, though volumes still remain below 2008 levels. Overall, we expect to see strong demand throughout July and August, although we view the sustainability of the current robust revenue trends towards the end of the year with a degree of caution.”

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,216,215 passengers in June – up 27.5% on the same month last year. The passenger load factor was 85.4%, a rise of 8.6 percentage points, while capacity for the month, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), was up by 7.7%. In the first half of 2010 the number of passengers carried was up by 8.5% compared to an ASK drop of 0.1%.

The two airlines carried a total of 148,520 tonnes of cargo and mail last month, up 19.9% on June last year. The cargo and mail load factor was 75.4%, a rise of 4.1 percentage points, while capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, was up by 19.2%. In the first half of the year, tonnage rose by 24.4% compared to a capacity increase of 7.1%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing James Woodrow said: "We saw some softening in the market in June compared to previous months and the increase in tonnage was only just ahead of the increase in capacity for the month. However, overall demand remained robust out of the key Hong Kong and Shanghai markets, particularly on transpacific routes. The Japan market has also been performing well. In terms of capacity, we have now brought back all parked freighters from the desert, though one Boeing Converted Freighter will transfer to the cargo joint venture with Air China in August.”