International Air Cargo Volume Slips 1.3 Percent

International air cargo volume fell in August year-over-year for the second consecutive month, with industrywide traffic down 1.3 percent, according to figures from the International Air Transport Association. Volume declined 0.8 percent from July.

For a larger version of the chart, click on image.

The year-over-year drop came on a slight 0.7 percent increase in capacity. The capacity increase marked a return to year-over-year growth; in July, available freight metric ton kilometers fell 0.2 percent year-over-year.

The Middle East once again saw strong growth in August versus 2011, with international air cargo freight metric ton kilometers up 11.4 percent on a 10.5 percent increase in capacity, continuing a pattern seen all year. Africa also saw double-digit percentage growth in volume, IATA reported, up 11.1 percent on a 7.9 percent increase in capacity. North American volume rose slightly, up 1.8 percent, although available capacity fell 2.1 percent, continuing a pattern of year-over-year declines seen since June.

The Asia-Pacific region experienced its sixth straight month of year-over-year declines in international air cargo volume in August, with freight metric ton kilometers down 6.3 percent and available capacity off 3.7 percent versus the same month in 2011. Volumes were down year-over-year in Latin America and Europe as well, 3.6 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively, on corresponding capacity increases of 13.1 percent and 1.4 percent.