Cathay Pacific releases October 2005 traffic figures

Cathay Pacific has released traffic figures for October 2005 which show a rise in passenger numbers and an increase in cargo tonnage over the same period last year.

The airline carried 1,306,116 passengers in October 2005, an 11.9% increase on the same month last year. The passenger load factor was 76.3%, down 1.3 points year-on-year. Traffic was a little suppressed by fewer people travelling during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Yield, the amount paid for every passenger kilometre flown, remained depressed as customers continued to book late in an environment of aggressive ticket pricing.

The Hong Kong-based airline carried 103,962 tonnes of cargo in October, up 14.8% year-on-year, boosted by an increase in transhipment cargo to and from Shanghai. The cargo load factor was 69.9%, down 1.4 points reflecting weak demand for exports from Europe and the US to Asia.

Figures for Hong Kong’s air cargo market show slower underlying export growth. Hong Kong export volumes increased 5.7%, according to October figures issued by Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, while transhipments increased 20%. Worldwide cargo figures issued by industry group IATA also show a slowdown in air cargo growth.

Market jet fuel prices have increased more than 43% in the past year and remained high in October, at almost US$80 a barrel, compared to US$64 for Brent crude. Into-plane prices paid by the airline are higher still with added fuel transportation costs.

The price of jet fuel is higher than that for crude oil because it is obtained from only a small fraction of refined crude. High demand for petrol can also prompt refineries to reduce jet fuel production, further raising its cost. Analysts say jet fuel demand, and prices, have dipped slightly in the past month as fewer people travelled to and from hurricane-hit areas in the United States, yet may rebound with the peak holiday travel season in the US, starting late November with Thanksgiving.

Cathay Pacific plans to continue to expand its services and hopes to soon operate a daily service to Rome, following the Hong Kong SAR Government’s announcement today that it has secured additional flight rights to the Italian capital. The airline currently operates five Rome flights a week.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said, "October was not a bad month, yet still below expectations. Competition was keen on key routes and we filled flights but at reduced prices. Bookings for early November look good, but slacken off again just ahead of the year-end holiday peak.”

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