TNT Raises Europe Express Rates

Air express operator TNT will raise its intra-Europe rates 3.5 percent as part of what the carrier calls a "global yield improvement program."

The early-summer increase is relatively unusual in an air express industry that generally sets contract rates at the start of the year. But spot market pricing has been growing amid recovering demand, and TNT is among several carriers seeking to bolster profit margins as demand improves.

By The Numbers: European Airlines' Freight Traffic.

TNT's express revenue grew 18.8 percent in the first quarter over the depressed figures a year ago. TNT also more than tripled its operating profit for express service and improved its margin from 1.5 percent a year ago to 4.8 percent in the quarter ending March 31, 2010.

FedEx Express last month reported that its domestic yield for express services outside the United States grew 11 percent in the quarter ending May 31 over the same period a year ago.