Passenger numbers are falling as Americans and Europeans curtail travel plans in the fact of financial turmoil, according to the Kuala Lumpur-based Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.
“The biggest challenges right now are weakening passenger demand, particularly for first- and businessclass travel, and continuing uncertainty about the global economic outlook,” says AAPA director-general Andrew Herdsman, quoted by AFP. He says the association is “extremely cautious” about next year’s prospects for the airline industry.
AAPA is a trade association of international airlines based in the region, including Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Dragonair, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines.
