What Happened
International Passenger Numbers Rise After Five Month Decline
Asia Pacific airlines have reported a slight increase in international passenger numbers for September 2026, ending a five-month decline. According to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, the region’s carriers flew 30.4 million international passengers during the month, up 0.7% from a year earlier. Air cargo demand also picked up pace, with a 6.4% year-on-year increase. The growth was partly driven by passengers choosing routings that avoided Middle East hubs, as well as stronger global manufacturing and demand for AI-related goods. This news was first reported by AeroTime.