Mike King, Special Correspondent | Jan 26, 2012 9:52AM EST
Asian air carriers shipped 5.4 percent less freight last month than in December 2010, as the traditional end of the year peak season failed to materialize, said the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines.
Cargo traffic in 2011 fell 4.8 percent year-over-year, as shippers restocked inventories cautiously “in the expectation of relatively weaker growth prospects for major developed economies.” With freight capacity stable, the average international freight load factor dropped 3.4 percentage points to 66.6 percent last year.
“Uncertainty over prospects for the global economy in 2012 has somewhat overshadowed the immediate outlook, and airlines are bracing themselves for a challenging year,” said Andrew Herdman, AAPA director general.
He said Asian airlines’ fleet expansion plans, service enhancement and the launch of new business ventures reflect carriers’ optimism about long-term growth.
-- Contact Mike King at michael@borderline.eu.com
