THE Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (PA) saw international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne-kilometres (FTK), increase by five per cent in July compared with the same month a year earlier, data from the asssociation shows
THE Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (PA) saw international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne-kilometres (FTK), increase by five per cent in July compared with the same month a year earlier, data from the asssociation shows. According to PA, consumer confidence in the region has remained relatively unaffected by the political rhetoric of recent times, including the potential threat of protectionist measures, reported London's Air Cargo News.
However, the average international freight load factor declined by 0.5 percentage points to 64.4 per cent in July on the back of a 5.9 per cent increase in offered air freight capacity.
PA director general Andrew Herdman attributed the ongoing growth in air cargo traffic to 'broad-based growth in the global economy.'
He was quoted as saying: 'Both the United States and China have announced expansionary fiscal measures, which should stimulate domestic demand in the advanced and emerging market economies and hopefully mitigate any adverse impact from new tariff barriers.'
July's growth was higher than the previous month when Asia Pacific carriers experienced weaker demand growth triggered by a slowdown in the manufacturing sector.
PA figures indicate that cargo traffic volumes rose by 3.4 per cent year on year in June, down from the 4.9 per cent increase recorded in the first half of this year.
'The global manufacturing sector, whilst still expanding, experienced slower growth in June,' PA said. 'The average international freight load factor declined by 1.9 percentage points to 64.5 per cent in June, on the back of a 6.4 per cent expansion in offered freight capacity.'
