The Asia-Pacific aviation sector, including the Philippines, has soared into the new year with remarkable vitality, as highlighted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). According to the latest data released by IATA, the region witnessed a substantial surge in passenger traffic during the first two months of the year. January recorded a notable 45.4 percent increase, followed by an even more impressive 53.2 percent surge in February.
Continued Momentum in Regional Growth
The Asia Pacific region continues to lead in terms of growth, showcasing its resilience as international travel makes a robust comeback. IATA attributes part of this growth to the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year, which saw a surge in leisure travel and a corresponding boost in plane ticket sales.
Global Air Travel on the Rise
The positive trend in Asia-Pacific air travel mirrors a broader global recovery in the aviation sector. As COVID-19 restrictions ease worldwide, passenger traffic is steadily rebounding. February saw a notable 1.9 percentage point improvement in passenger load factor compared to the previous year. This uptick underscores the increasing availability of seats and growing passenger demand on a global scale.
NAIA experienced a notable influx of passengers
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippines' primary international gateway, witnessed a significant surge in foot traffic during the initial months of the year. Passenger volume from January to February surged by an impressive 13 percent, reaching 8.04 million passengers compared to 7.14 million in the corresponding period last year. Notably, international passengers contributed substantially to this growth, marking a 27 percent increase to 3.91 million. Even domestic volume saw a commendable 1 percent rise to 4.13 million passengers for the same period.
Upcoming NAIA Rehabilitation Brings Promise
As air travel continues to thrive, NAIA is gearing up for a major rehabilitation project set to commence in September. Spearheaded by the San Miguel Corp.-led New Naia Infrastructure Corp., this ambitious endeavor aims to elevate and modernize the airport's infrastructure to meet the growing demands of regional air travel
