Asia Pacific airlines saw demand for international air cargo grow in September compared to the same month last year, but the freight load factor declined.
Preliminary traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show that international air cargo demand in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) grew by 4.4% year-on-year in September “against a backdrop of easing expansion in global manufacturing production and new business orders”.
However, after accounting for a 6.5% increase in offered freight capacity, the average international freight load factor declined by 1.3 percentage points to 64.3% for the month.
For the first nine months of the year, international air cargo demand grew by 4.7%, benefitting from sustained growth in international trade, according to Andrew Herdman, AAPA director general.
Herdman said: “The third quarter saw a slightly more moderate 4.3% increase in air cargo demand, compared to the 4.8% growth recorded during the first half of the year."
He added: "Global business confidence remains relatively firm, but may be undermined by uncertainty about emerging geopolitical risks and policy responses to escalating trade disputes.
"Nevertheless, Asian airlines expect continued growth in air travel demand in the coming months. Air cargo demand is also being supported by further growth in e-commerce."
