The latest figures from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe show that year-on-year cargo demand growth for October reached its highest level since May 2011.

ACI Europe recorded an 8.7% year-on-year increase in freight traffic in October, with airlines in European Union (EU) countries reporting growth of 7% and those outside the EU seeing a 22.9% improvement.

Meanwhile, aircraft movements during the month were up 4.2%, a sign of "significant airline capacity expansion".

However, the organisation warned the improvements may not last too long.

Olivier Jankovec, director general ACI Europe, said: “Both the passenger and freight dynamics reflected a generally improved macro-economic environment, especially in the EU – as well as low oil prices.

"However, the prospect of oil price hikes and the risk of decreasing business & consumer confidence on the back on heightened geopolitical instability may well confront us with very different traffic dynamics in the coming months.”

Of Europe's busiest airports, Frankfurt registered a 5.6% improvement, Paris CDG was up 3.9%, Amsterdam Schiphol increased 10.8% and London Heathrow jumped by 6.7%.

Yesterday, IATA revealed that airlines had registered an 8.2% year-on-year improvement in freight tonne kms in October.