The robust demand for air travel continued in March, with the Singapore Airlines (SIA) C6L group seeing strong passenger traffic and load factors across all route regions.
SIA and Scoot carried a combined 2.7 million passengers in March, up 14.1% m-o-m, and three times the number of passengers carried in March 2022.
Scoot carried some 947,600 passengers during the month, a 638.6% increase from March 2022. SIA, meanwhile, carried some 1,773,900 passengers in March, up 132% y-o-y.
Group passenger capacity was 10.9% higher compared to February 2023, and at 79% of pre-Covid-19 levels (January 2020) during the month.
Group passenger load factor (PLF) was 89.0%, up 2.4 percentage points (ppt) m-o-m, and up 34.5 ppt y-o-y.
SIA’s PLF was 87.9%, while Scoot’s PLF of 92.8% was the highest in its history.
See also: SIA group wide load factor for Feb was 86.6%, down 0.3% over Jan
Meanwhile, the cargo load factor of 55.1% was 17.4 ppt lower y-o-y, as cargo loads declined by 13.4%y-o-y due to weaker demand, while capacity expanded by 14.1% as increased passenger services resulted in higher bellyhold capacity, says SIA.
At the end of March, the group’s passenger network covered 109 destinations in 36 countries and territories. SIA served 74 destinations, while Scoot served 58 destinations.
The cargo network comprised 118 destinations in 38 countries and territories.
Shares in SIA closed 3 cents higher, or 0.53% up, at $5.74 on April 17.