SIA's passenger load factor dips 0.1 ppt to 81.1% in January

It is balancing yields against loads amidst price pressures.

Singapore Airlines' (SIA) passenger load factor (PLF) dipped by 0.1 ppt YoY to 81.1% in January, as it tried to balance yields against loads amidst price competition.

According to SIA's operating results, its passenger carriage was flat compared to last year, against a 0.1% increase in capacity.

Meanwhile, its parent airline's PLF came in flat at 81.1%, despite the shift of the Lunar New Year holidays from January to February.

The 2.4% increase in passenger carriage matched the 2.4% increase in capacity.

Overall cargo load factor (CLF) was 0.4 ppt higher, with growth in cargo traffic of 4.5% ahead of a capacity increase of 3.9%. CLF improved across most regions, except Americas and Europe, as demand outpaced capacity changes.

Here's more from SIA:

SilkAir’s systemwide passenger carriage increased by 0.7%, trailing growth in capacity of 4.4%. Consequently, PLF fell 2.6 ppt to 70.6%.

Growth in traffic lagged capacity injection to Cairns, Male and Kathmandu, and demand for Denpasar and Lombok was affected by the eruption of Mount Agung.

Scoot recorded passenger carriage growth of 12.6%, exceeding capacity expansion of 10.9%. Consequently, PLF rose by 1.3 ppt to 85%.

PLF on selected routes to Thailand, India, Australia as well as fifth freedom routes to North Asia continued to improve.