Asia Air Freight Growth Slows

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines reported a 27.7 percent increase in traffic in July, slower than the year-to-date average of 33.7 percent.

With a 20.3 percent increase in capacity, the overall load factor climbed by 4.2 percentage points to 71.6 percent.

“During the first seven months of the year, international air cargo demand has recorded 33.7 percent growth,” said Andrew Herdman, AAPA director general. “The very high growth rates recorded in recent months, as a result of the surprisingly sharp V-shaped recovery, will obviously taper off as the economy stabilizes and reverts to a more normal pattern of growth.”

By The Numbers: Asia-Pacific Airlines' Freight Traffic.

"Asia Pacific airlines are generally well placed to benefit from the improving business environment although continuing uncertainties about the prospects for further growth in North America and Europe suggest a measure of caution," he said.

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals reported a 17.5 percent increase in throughput for August 2010 compared to the same month last year. Cumulative tonnage for the first eight months of the year was 1,890,449 tonnes, up 33.9 percent year-on-year.

Exports were up 25.8 percent for the month and 41.8 percent for the year to date. Imports rose 9.2 percent against August last year and 29.6 percent for the first eight months of 2010.

Dubai International reported a 23.5 percent rise in July cargo traffic throughput to 197,845 tonnes compared to 160,289 tonnes in the same month last year. Year to date traffic is up 25.5 percent to 1,299,701 tonnes from 1,035,118 tonnes for the first seven months of 2009.