AsPac airlines carry more air cargo in August
Asia-Pacific based airlines carried more air cargo last August as the “within Asia” route continued to exhibit strong growth in recent months, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported.
According to the latest data from the IATA, Asia-Pacific carriers registered a 2.8 percent increase in airfreight volume, measured in freight ton kilometers. Capacity in the region also rose by 1.2 percent.
“Demand conditions have improved in the ‘Within Asia’ air cargo market in recent months, as well as on routes to and from the region,” the IATA said.
Cargo demand within the region alone grew 6.5 percent year-on-year in July.
Carriers in the region consider freight a key element in their businesses, flying almost two-fifths of total international cargo volume.
Globally, air cargo demand rose 3.9 percent.
Freight capacity also increased by 4.1 percent year-on-year.
“August numbers showed improvements in cargo demand. While this is good news, the underlying market conditions make it difficult to have long-term optimism,” IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said.
He said global trade volumes fell 1.1 percent in July with no foreseen improvements in the future.
“And the current global political rhetoric in much of the world is more focused on protectionism than trade promotion. Economies need to grow out of the current economic doldrums. Governments should be focused on promoting trade, not raising protectionist barriers,” he added.
All regions, except Latin America, reported growth in their cargo demand during the period.
This was led by European airlines, with 6.6 percent increase in cargo year-on-year, followed by North American carriers with 5.5 percent growth in freight volumes.
African carriers also posted a 3.7 percent growth in cargo demand, while demand in Middle Eastern airlines slowed down to 1.8 percent.
Cargo volume for Latin America airlines, on the other hand, fell for the sixth consecutive month, posting a 3.3 percent decrease from last year.