The Airports Council International (ACI) says air transport ended 2016 on a strong footing despite terrorist attacks, geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
ACI says airfreight markets experienced a revival in the second half of 2016 as volumes increased 3.5 per cent for the year as a whole with a jump of 8.9 per cent for the month of December brought on by an increase in volumes at airports in the Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.
ACI notes volumes in each of these regions increased over 10 per cent for the month of December, despite long-term uncertainty regarding trade policies, heightened business confidence through inventory build-ups and increased export orders remained apparent in the near term.
ACI says the growth came in 2016 despite economic uncertainty caused by Brexit, the US presidential election, and hostilities in Syria, along with the increased rhetoric about protectionist policies in some Western countries which also threatens the trend toward increased air service liberalisation.
