Weak market conditions continued into the first month of the year, as Asia-Pacific airlines registered a 0.7-percent decrease in freight tonne-kilometres compared to January 2015, according to preliminary monthly traffic figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.

The international freight load factor dropped 2.0 percentage points year-on-year, to an average of 59.6%, while available capacity increased 2.6 percent.

“For the region’s carriers, the continued strong growth in passenger demand was a very welcome start to the year, against a backdrop of volatile markets and an increase in global economic risks,” said Andrew Herdman, director general of the AAPA. “The usual lift in air cargo shipments seen ahead of the holiday season had been somewhat muted, as seen in the continued weakness in cargo volumes.”

Airlines remain vigilant in monitoring regional economic developments and managing costs highly competitive market conditions, added Herdman.