Taiwan’s major carriers capitalized on robust tourism demand last month, with China Airlines Ltd (CAL, 中華航空) hitting a sales milestone and rival EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) breaking records in passenger revenue.
CAL said it posted a new monthly high of NT$19.29 billion (US$587.48 million) in consolidated sales last month, up 21.12 percent from a year earlier. Passenger revenue hit NT$12.62 billion, up 16.93 percent year-on-year.
The carrier said the airline business entered its peak season in the first quarter, driven by the winter vacation and Lunar New Year holiday, resulting in a load factor topping 90 percent for most northeast Asian flights.
Photo: CNA
Air cargo revenue last month totaled NT$5.28 billion, up 30.84 percent from a year earlier due to an increase in shipments ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, it said, adding that the higher demand also pushed up freight rates.
EVA Air said it posted consolidated sales of NT$20.045 billion last month, behind only NT$20.054 billion the previous month.
Passenger revenue hit a new high of NT$13.75 billion last month, up 10.32 percent from a year earlier.
The carrier said the load factor on flights to North American and European destinations hit almost 90 percent, buoyed by visits to the CES in Las Vegas and trips abroad for the Christmas season.
In the region, the load factor in destinations to Japan and South Korea also topped 85 percent, it said.
Meanwhile, Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) and Tigerair Taiwan Ltd (台灣虎航) also reported high sales last month due to the Lunar New Year holiday.
Starlux posted NT$4.24 billion in consolidated sales, up 71 percent from a year earlier. Passenger revenue surged 70 percent year-on-year to NT$3.79 billion and cargo revenue soared more than 100 percent to NT$292 million.
Tigerair Taiwan said it posted NT$1.69 billion in consolidated sales last month, up 31.2 percent from a year earlier.
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