China's flag carrier Air China has posted a year-on-year 1.6 per cent drop in cargo volume to 92,300 tonnes in August, but enjoyed a 3.5 per cent increase in passenger volume to 4.6 million people, reports Xinhua.
Cargo capacity rose 1.6 per cent year on year in August. Revenue freight tonne kilometres (RFTK) decreased 1.2 per cent while cargo transport volume increased 1.6 per cent year on year. The cargo load factor fell 1.6 per cent to 57.7 per cent.
During the month, Air China purchased a total of 290,000 tonnes of jet fuel at an average price of CNY7,719 (US$1,208) per tonne, a year-on-year surge of 36 per cent. The average jet fuel purchase price at international airports was CNY6,826 per tonne, and that for international flights at the top six Chinese airports was CNY7,195 per tonne in August, representing a 39 per cent increase, while that domestic flight consumption was CNY8,221 per tonne, up 36 per cent year on year, according to an Air China statement.
Passenger traffic for August achieved a year-on-year growth exceeding the rise in capacity. Passenger capacity grew four per cent year on year while passenger traffic, measured by revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose 6.6 per cent.
Capacity on domestic routes increased 1.4 per cent, while RPK climbed 5.3 per cent. Capacity on international routes grew 7.5 per cent, with RPK increasing by 7.6 per cent. Capacity on regional routes expanded 13.5 per cent, with RPK rising 18.3 per cent. The passenger load factor increased 2.1 per cent year on year to 86.1 per cent.