SIA passenger load factor up 2.6 ppt to 79.6%

Cargo load factor fell 3.9 ppt as demand outpaced capacity changes.

In May 2018, SIA Group airlines' passenger load factor (PLF) improved 2.6 ppt to 79.6%. According to its operating results, passenger carriage (measured in revenue passenger kilometres) increased 9.6% compared to last year, outpacing capacity (measured in available seat kilometres) injection of 6.1%.

Overall cargo load factor (CLF) was 3.9 ppt lower, with cargo traffic (measured in freight-tonne-kilometres) down 3.3% against capacity growth of 2.7%. “CLF declined across all route regions as demand did not keep pace with capacity changes,” SIA said.

Singapore Airlines' PLF moved up 2.1 ppt to 78.7%. Passenger carriage increased 6.8% compared to last year, against a 4.0% increase in capacity. “PLF improved for all route regions, except Europe where capacity growth outpaced demand during the early summer season,” SIA said.

Meanwhile, SilkAir’s systemwide passenger carriage jumped by 17%, ahead of a capacity growth of 11.9%. Consequently, PLF increased 3.2 ppt to 73.5%. Strong growth in demand exceeded capacity injections across East Asia, Australia and West Asia, the airlines said.

SIA’s low-cost carrier Scoot also recorded passenger carriage growth of 17.9%, exceeding capacity expansion of 12.5%. Consequently, PLF rose by 3.9 ppt to 85.3%.

“PLF on all route regions improved as demand outpaced changes in capacity,” SIA said. “Selected routes to India, South East Asia, China, Australia, and fifth freedom routes to North Asia continued to improve.”