Continental Airlines Cargo Grows 16.5 Percent

Cargo traffic at Continental Airlines jumped 16.5 percent in November, the strongest year-over-year growth yet in 2009 amid growing signs of stability in the freight market for U.S. passenger airlines.

Traffic measured in cargo ton miles slipped slightly for Continental on a month-to-month basis, suggesting the recovery in air freight demand has crested after a late surge in the peak shipping season.

Cargo traffic for Continental has fallen 8.8 percent in the first 11 months of the year, and Continental reported earlier that revenue from cargo business had declined nearly 33 percent in the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period a year ago.

But Continental, like other passenger airlines, has also slashed capacity, cutting its available seat miles some 4.6 percent this year compared to last year.