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Unpacking APAC Air Travel in 2024: Bright Spots and Lingering Challenges
2024 has been noteworthy for air travel in the Asia-Pacific region, marked by significant developments in international routes. Which markets are emerging as top performers this year?
By Pang Yee Huat
Solutions Consultant at Cirium
The year 2024 has been noteworthy for air travel in the Asia-Pacific region, marked by significant developments in international routes. Which markets are emerging as top performers this year?
In the first eight months of 2024, Japan remains one of the busiest destinations, with routes connecting to South Korea, China, and Taiwan ranking in the top three for passenger traffic. While passenger numbers on routes between Japan and South Korea, as well as Taiwan, have shown robust double-digit growth, traffic between China and Japan experienced a notable decline of 25%. This decrease is mirrored by a 21% reduction in seat capacity. Overall, China’s international seat capacity continues to lag behind pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 28%, posing ongoing challenges for passenger traffic, with reductions observed across all major routes connecting to China.
Japan remains one of the busiest destinations, while China’s international seat capacity continues to lag behind pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 28%.
Meanwhile, Vietnam-South Korea routes have demonstrated healthy growth, with passenger traffic increasing by 15%, supported by an 11% rise in seat capacity between January and August 2024, compared to 2019. This period saw the launch of five new routes, including Nha Trang–Cheongju, Da Lat–Busan, Phu Quoc Island–Cheongju, Phu Quoc Island–Busan, and Can Tho–Seoul. VietJet Air has emerged as the dominant player in this market, providing 1.1 million out of the 3.9 million total seats. Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines follow with 578,000 and 500,000 seats, respectively.
Another market that saw a similar growth phenomenon is India – United Arab Emirates, where traffic and capacity both grew by 15% between 2024 and 2019. This growth was powered by IndiGo’s (6E) and Air India Express’ (IX) capacity injection of +55% and 21% respectively, and the new entrance of Air Arabia Abu Dhabi (3L), which contributed another additional 407,000 seats from the UAE to India.
An analysis of the top 10 Asia-Pacific routes by scheduled seat capacity for the first quarter of 2025 reveals that most major markets have surpassed their pre-COVID levels and are now in a growth phase. Notably, routes such as South Korea–Vietnam and India–United Arab Emirates are maintaining strong upward momentum, with seat capacity increasing by 27% and 20%, respectively.
However, China stands as an exception to this trend. Major international routes to Thailand, South Korea, and Hong Kong remain significantly below 2019 levels, with traffic to Thailand still trailing by 22%. While recovery appears possible, it will be heavily influenced by a range of factors, from market demand and policy changes to broader economic conditions. Nevertheless, there is hope that with the right conditions, a gradual rebound could be on the horizon.
Major international routes from China remain significantly lower than 2019 levels, recovery is heavily dependent on the right conditions such as market demand, policy changes and broader economic conditions.
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