Asia Pacific airlines carried just one million cross-border passengers in August.
That is only 3% compared to 34 million in August 2019, according to preliminary data from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
International travel in the region remains almost non-existent, AAPA said, and again called on governments to work harder to safely reopen international travel corridors.
"There is no international air travel market to speak of, as the border restrictions severely inhibit international air travel. Abrupt re-impositions of border closures by some countries due to a resurgence in cases have further shrunk passenger demand," said AAPA Director General Subhas Menon.
"Travellers, airlines and airports are struggling to make sense of the patchy and sweeping approaches to border regulations being imposed by various countries."
Average international passenger load factors were 35.8% for August and cargo traffic was also down due to weak global trade and big cuts in the numbers of commercial passenger flights across the region.
The trade group urges governments and industry stakeholders to coordinate actions to help ‘restore global connectivity.’
"AAPA calls for an urgent review of border closures and blanket quarantine requirements, particularly for travel between countries where the prevalence of the virus is low and contained," Menon added.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
