By Harry Clarke, Head of Insights & Analytics, Avinode Group

In June, Avinode saw a record number of charter requests for APAC-based operators, with more sourcing being done through the platform in the region than ever before. That growth tells a clear story: charter demand is increasing, the market is digitizing, and operators across Asia are increasingly embracing a global audience.

But there’s another side to the story, how that demand behaves. And it looks different from what we typically see in the US or Europe.

A region that plans ahead

If you’re familiar with the North American market, last-minute requests (within 24 hours) are part of everyday life. In the US, they represent around 22% of all air charter requests. Europe shows strong seasonality, with last-minute activity spiking in the summer and longer-term planning dominating the winter, reflecting the leisure-heavy character of the European market.

In contrast, last-minute charter requests for APAC-based operators sit at just 12%. That’s a major difference, and it’s shaped by more than just habit.

Heavy jets, long legs, and logistical friction

The aircraft mix plays a key role. 67% of APAC-based aircraft listed in Avinode are heavy jets, ultra-long-range (ULR) aircraft, or VIP airliners—ideal for longer-range international trips that naturally involve more forward planning.

This is evident in Singapore, the region’s most-searched departure city. 35% of searches for trips from Singapore are for destinations outside of Asia or Oceania, suggesting that many trips require extended planning and regulatory coordination.

Permit logistics are another factor. Speaking with operators and professionals last week at the Asian Sky Forum in Bangkok, a common theme emerged: trip organization in Asia can take longer, not because of broker or operator preference, but because getting permits can be less predictable, varying from country to country.

Less leisure, more structure

In APAC, charter demand is still heavily tilted toward business travel, which tends to follow more structured booking patterns than leisure. That naturally reduces the proportion of spur-of-the-moment trips.

That said, short-haul demand is growing, and fast. Not all searches are for globe-spanning missions. The most searched route in the region is Bangkok to Phuket, and the third most searched is Seoul to Tokyo, trips that could be comfortably operated by lighter aircraft.

As demand for these short, intra-regional flights grows, we may see a shift in booking times.

Looking forward, could APAC start booking later?

Possibly. As more locally based brokers join Avinode, we may see the share of last-minute requests rise. This would mirror the patterns seen in the US and Europe, especially as smaller aircraft enter the market and digital sourcing tools reduce the friction of organizing short-notice trips.

For now, though, APAC is still a region that books ahead and plans carefully. So while growth in APAC air charter is strong, brokers and operators eyeing the region should be aware: success here might mean thinking further ahead, even as the market races forward.