OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2011. Cathay Pacific Airways released combined Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for September 2011 showing a year-on-year increase in passenger numbers that was below the increase in capacity. Cargo and mail tonnage showed a decline for the sixth consecutive month, reported the press-centre of Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,255,605 passengers last month – up 3.5% on the same month last year – while the passenger load factor fell by 2.1 percentage points to 79.7%. Capacity for the month, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), was up by 9.8%. For the year to date, the number of passengers carried increased by 2.1% while capacity was up by 9.1%.

The two airlines carried 131,443 tonnes of cargo and mail in September, a 10.1% decrease compared to the same month last year, while the cargo and mail load factor was down 5.0 percentage points to 64.8%. Capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, was down by 0.8%, while cargo and mail tonne kilometres flown were down by 7.9%. For the year to date, tonnage has dropped by 6.4% compared to a capacity increase of 9.8%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management James Tong said: “In September we saw a falloff in demand in the back end, as expected after the summer peak. The Japan route continued to see a recovery, though China was down compared to last year due to the Shanghai Expo effect in 2010. Premium business held up well in September in terms of volume and yield, with currency movements working in our favour, but the outlook is getting more uncertain as companies begin to review their travel policies in light of the economic situation.”

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing James Woodrow said: "On the cargo side there was no significant change from the situation in August, with the key Hong Kong and China markets both remaining soft and demand to long-haul destinations, particularly Europe, below expectations. There is no sign yet of the traditional year-end peak beginning. On the positive side, intra-Asia traffic is holding up well and flights from most destinations into Hong Kong have been relatively full. We have recently launched freighter services to Chongqing and Chengdu to boost our presence in the growing Western China market.”