Cathay Pacific Airways posted a 1.7% year-on-year fall in passenger traffic in 2009.
Total RPKs dipped 1.7% and the total number of passengers fell 1.6% to 24.6 million, says the Oneworld carrier. The figures include those of subsidiary Dragonair.
Capacity, as measured by ASKs, fell 3.7% from a year ago, says Cathay. The passenger load factor grew 1.7 percentage points to 80.5%.
Cathay's general manager revenue management Tom Owen says: "2009 ended well, with stronger passenger demand leading to an improved load factor and yield at the highest level of the year."
The results were driven by "extracting better quality demand in our economy cabins, and a continuation of a gradual rise in volume from premium passengers," he adds.
In December, Cathay reported 4% passenger growth and the total number of passengers carried rose 5% to 2.2 million, says the airline.
Capacity was slashed by 2% in December, and the passenger load factor grew 4.9 percentage points to 83.9%, adds Cathay.
In terms of cargo, total cargo and mail tonne kilometres in 2009 fell 6.6%, while capacity fell 13%.
In December, cargo traffic grew 20.8% and capacity was cut 3.3%, says the carrier.
"Demand was very strong in December, with the backlog of freight in the key Hong Kong and Shanghai markets helping to stretch out the peak," says the carrier's general manager cargo sales and marketing Titus Diu.
Cathay expects cargo demand to remain fairly robust in the period leading up to the Chinese New Year, he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
