Transpacific demand has recovered!… kinda

ByCourtney Miller

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What has happened to air travel between North America and East Asia?

It’s officially been over four years since COVID was declared a global pandemic.

Much has changed in aviation in the past four years:

  • Air travel has recovered faster than all expectations
  • Supply chain challenges are all the rage
  • The existence of the narrowbody shortage has reluctantly been accepted
  • The 737-7 and 737-10 have been certified (just kidding)

But one area that continues to lag in a COVID-esque reduction in traffic is transpacific travel.

In fact, air travel between North America and East / Southeast Asia remains down 23% compared to 2019 levels. What gives?

China. China gives.

Traffic between North America and China is still less than half of 2019 numbers, a level driven by political fights between the two largest economies.

But, the majority of other transpacific routes are also down, with the exception of Vietnam. Does this mean there is no more demand between North America and Asia?

Even though traffic has been down since the pandemic started, fares have risen sharply. Once averaging a steady $700, ticket prices were twice that as recently as early 2023, peaking at $1,479 in 2021.

If we have reduced traffic but much higher fares, what does that tell us about demand?

Not since the reveal of Skywalker’s real dad has there been a plot twist of such proportions!

Maybe we’re overdoing it a bit, but consider what this data is telling us. By all measures, transpacific travel has been fundamentally damaged – all measures except the one that matters.

The transpacific market is just fine—like all of the other markets that have recovered. What it lacks is the ability to handle the demand that is competing for limited seats.

The news is good for the optimists. Demand has recovered. Now to appease the pessimists:

This also means that as capacity is added to routes over the Pacific, fares will continue to fall. Today, they are at a swanky $1,000. But if we have learned anything from the plethora of other markets years ahead in the traffic recovery (which we have learned lots), it’s that the fares will drop as capacity returns.

Sounds obvious, and yet, here we are. $700 fares are not necessarily a thing of the past.

Buckle up.

But what about premium travelers?

If fares are still over $1,000, what does that mean for first-class travel? What about premium economy?

Did we see a shift to premium fare classes with the higher fares across the Pacific?

 

The answer:

Ummm… well, nothing much as changed.

Fares are through the roof, but seats are still limited. Think that higher fare gets you a bigger seat?

Think again!

In fairness, this is how pricing works. There are still a limited number of all types of seats, driving up fares for all classes.

Still, you’d expect a little more service for your extra $300, right.

You’d also be disappointed.

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