Airfreight volumes inched up by more than one per cent in September lead by the North American market, according to the Airports Council International (ACI).
ACI says: “Markets remain relatively weak as compared to passenger traffic. An emerging market slowdown led by China has resulted in more subdued growth in airfreight volumes across the world’s markets.
“Global airfreight volumes increased by 1.4 per cent year-over-year (YOY) for the month of September. On a year-to-date basis, volumes rose by 2.3 per cent across the globe for the first three quarters of 2015.”
ACI says Hong Kong International Airport, the world’s major international freight hub, reported modest gains of 1.1 per cent in September.
The major Chinese hubs, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, were flat with respect to YOY changes in volumes.
The Asia-Pacific region as a whole experienced a slight gain of 0.5 per cent in airfreight traffic in September.
ACI continues: “On the other hand, in the midst of stronger economic fundamentals in advanced economies, North American airfreight hubs achieved the greatest gains in volumes for the month of September.
“With growth of 4.4% in airfreight volumes, much of the cargo increases in the region can be attributed to the boost in internal domestic demand.
“Whereas North America’s international freight inched up by only 0.9 per cent, the region’s domestic airfreight market grew by 6.9 per cent year-over-year in September.”
Memphis International Airport, a major FedEx hub, and Louisville International Airport, the UPS hub, each experienced an increase of 5.7 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively in terms of YOY growth in volumes.
