Cathay Pacific Releases Combined Traffic Figures for March 2010

Cathay Pacific Airways today released combined Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for March 2010 that show a significant rise in passenger volumes and cargo and mail tonnage compared to the same month last year when the impact of the global downturn was being felt.

Last month, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,221,694 passengers - up 6% on March 2009. The month's passenger load factor was 85.7%, an increase of 6.6 percentage points, while capacity for the month, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), decreased by 1.6%. For the first three months of 2010 combined, the number of passengers carried was up 6.4% compared to an ASK drop of 1.6%.

The two airlines carried a total of 159,270 tonnes of cargo and mail last month, up 22.9% on March last year. The cargo and mail load factor was 81.7%, a rise of 13.8 percentage points, while capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, was up by 0.7%. For the year to date, a tonnage rise of 24.1% compared to a capacity decline of 1.1%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management Tom Owen said: "Passenger volume and yield trends continued to improve through the month, which finished with a boost to leisure traffic in the lead up to the Easter holidays. Premium demand was also sustained at levels significantly higher than during last year's market crash, but still fell short of the pre-recession levels we used to enjoy. Forward demand recovery off last year's low base in both our business and economy cabins remains encouraging over the next few months."

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Mainland China & Hong Kong James Woodrow said: "Demand in March was strong with improved yield and particularly high load factors. Regional traffic continued its good start to the year. Additional freighter flights were added in the second half of March to cope with the peak demand and the outlook for April continues to be promising."