Air Freight Demand Shows Positive Signs of Recovery, IATA Says
Air freight demand increased in November, up 1.6 percent over the same period in 2011, the International Air Transport Association said in its monthly report on air traffic. “November brought some positive signs for air transport demand -- particularly for air cargo,” said Director General Tony Tyler. It's premature to consider this a turning point for air cargo markets in terms of bouncing back and regaining lost ground, he said, but when coupled with better economic developments in the U.S., and more business confidence in recent months, “the conditions are aligning to see a return to growth in 2013.” IATA expects cargo volumes to grow 1.4 percent this year. But the bottom line is that continued growth isn't guaranteed, IATA said. Governments should try to lower barriers to connectivity growth by addressing excessive taxation, high infrastructure costs, and onerous regulation, and by boosting the capacity and efficient of airports and air navigation services, it said.
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Asia-Pacific airlines were responsible for nearly half the rise in total volume compared to October, IATA said. North American carriers increased freight traffic by 1.7 percent and cut capacity by 0.6 percent, compared to November 2011. European airlines' freight traffic was flat and capacity grew by just 0.3 percent. Middle East carriers' freight showed the strongest growth over last year's figures, up 16 percent on a 6.1 percent rise in capacity. Latin American airlines' freight rose 4.2 percent, but capacity was up at 8.5 percent. African carriers grew freight volumes by 4.4 percent compared to November 2011,