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SIA tops May traffic figures

International aviation capacity in Australia is still a long way from returning to pre-pandemic levels, with newly released figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) confirming that scheduled traffic for May 2022 amounted to 1.76 million seats - about 42% of the levels available in May 2019.

INTERESTINGLY, however, the overall load factor for the month was 74.3% on international flights – not too far different from the 78.6% figure three years ago indicating airlines were effective at matching capacity with demand.

Singapore Airlines held the largest international passenger market share in Australia during the month, with the carrier accounting for 16.9% of total aviation traffic – fractionally ahead of Qantas Airways which held 16.8% of passenger numbers. Emirates was in third position with a 10.5% market share, head of Air New Zealand with 9.9% and then Jetstar at 9.4% rounding out the top five.

The figures indicated that Australian designated airlines – Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia accounted for 26.7% of total passenger carriage in May 2022, with the lion’s share going to the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia only comprising 0.5% of the total.

Air New Zealand had the fullest planes during the month, with an overall seat utilisation figure of 95% – compared to Taiwanese carrier Eva Air which only filled 9.9% of its seats to Australia.

A total of 51 airlines operated international passenger services to and from Australia in May 2022, 10 less than the number of operators recorded in May 2019.

 

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