SIA Group capacity outpaces 4.1% passenger traffic rise in June

Load factor fell 1.6 percentage points to 87.1%.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group’s passenger traffic rose 4.1% year-on-year (YoY) in June, lagging a 6% increase in capacity.

The group carried 3.68 million passengers during the month, up 6.3% from 3.46 million. Its passenger load factor (PLF) fell 1.6 percentage points to 87.1% as capacity outpaced traffic. 

Its mainline carrier, SIA, carried 2.38 million passengers, up 4% YoY, whilst traffic grew 2.5% against a 4.1% rise in capacity. 

Its PLF  fell 1.3 percentage points to 86.4%. The airlines recorded lower load factors across most regions, including a 4.1-percentage-point decline in the South West Pacific to 86.4%.

However, the West Asia and Africa region saw load factor rise 3.4 percentage points to 88.1%.

Low-cost airline Scoot posted a 10.8% rise in passengers to 1.30 million. Its capacity expanded 12.9%, ahead of a 9.6% growth in traffic, resulting in a 2.7-percentage-point decline in PLF to 89.5%.

The group’s cargo and mail carried increased by 8.5% to 103 million kilograms. Cargo loads rose 5.1%, whilst capacity declined 2.3%, lifting cargo load factor by 4.2 percentage points to 60.6%.

The increase in cargo carriage was attributed to shipments related to artificial intelligence and data centres, as well as the front-loading of e-commerce volumes into Europe before the European Union’s small-parcel duty took effect on 1 July.

During the month, Singapore Airlines launched services to Hangzhou, whilst Scoot began flights to Pontianak and resumed services to Jeddah on 22 June.

The budget carrier later suspended its Jeddah flights from 14 July following an escalation of hostilities in the Middle East. Singapore Airlines’ Dubai services remained suspended.

As of the end of June, the group’s passenger network covered 137 destinations in 36 countries and territories, whilst its cargo network served 139 destinations.