THE world's leading airlines and airports across posted mixed results in September, despite an expected pick up with the approach of the peak season.
Taking a close look at regional performance for September Cathay Pacific Airways in Asia Pacific saw cargo traffic rise by 2.3 per cent year on year to 1.02 billion revenue tonne kilometres (RTKs). Year-to-date, the carrier's cargo traffic was up 6.1 per cent to 8.94 billion RTKs.
Singapore Airlines' cargo traffic declined by 2.9 per cent year on year to 595 million RTKs in September. From January through September, SIA Cargo's traffic declined by a narrow margin of 0.1 per cent to 5.22 billion RTKs, reported Seattle's Cargo Facts.
Beijing-based Air China registered a 2.8 per cent increase in traffic in September compared to the same month in 2017 to 685 million RTKs. Year-to-date, traffic is up 7.1 per cent against the same period last year. Most of the growth is in international cargo traffic, which is up 4.1 per cent for September and 8.6 per cent year-to-date.
Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines posted an 8.7 per cent increase in cargo traffic to 672 million RTKs. Through September, traffic rose by 7.6 per cent to 5.5 billion RTKs. Overall cargo and mail tonnage were up 2.9 per cent year on year in September to 157,280 tonnes.
Taiwan's China Airlines saw September's cargo traffic rise by 3.5 per cent year on year to 513 million RTKs. Year-to-date, the airline's cargo traffic increased by 3.6 per cent compared with the same period in 2017 to 4.33 billion RTKs.
Hong Kong International Airport saw its cargo volumes in September drop by 1.4 per cent year on year to 431,000 tonnes. Year-to-date, the airport's cargo throughput was up 3.3 per cent. The airport said exports declined the most during the month, with cargo volumes to and from Europe and Japan registering the largest decreases.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co Ltd (Pactl) reported its September cargo volume fell by 3.5 per cent y-o-y to 160,300 tonnes. International cargo volumes were down 3.3 per cent.
Inbound volumes were 8.8 per cent lower y-o-y in September, while outbound volumes only saw a one per cent increase. Meanwhile, domestic cargo throughput dropped by 7.8 per cent y-o-y. Year-to-date, cargo handled by PACTL rose by 4.4 per cent to 1.41 million tonnes.
South Korea's Incheon Airport's cargo traffic decreased by 0.9 per cent year on year in September to 254,500 tonnes. Year-to-date volumes rose by 1.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2017.
In Europe and the Middle East, the Lufthansa Group reported September traffic down by 1.6 per cent y-o-y to 923 million RTKs. Year-to-date through September, cargo traffic is up 1.3 per cent to 8.1 billion RTKs.
Air France-KLM posted a 1.5 per cent increase in cargo traffic during September to 726 million RTKs. Year-to-date, cargo traffic grew by just 0.3 per cent year on year to 6.34 billion RTKs.
International Airlines Group reported a 0.4 per cent y-o-y decline in cargo traffic for September to 485 million RTKs. Year-to-date, total cargo traffic was down 0.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2017. Among IAG's subsidiary carriers, Aer Lingus saw the strongest growth for the month, while British Airways recorded a 2.6 per cent drop y-o-y in September.
Turkish Airlines extended its long-running, double-digit growth streak in September when volumes rose by 20 per cent to 118,500 tonnes. Year-to-date, the carrier's volumes are up 24.9 per cent.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) registered a 1.4 per cent decline in cargo traffic for September to 185,000 tonnes. From January through September, FRA's cargo volume decreased by 0.8 per cent to 1.64 million tonnes.
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport reported a 3.2 per cent year-on-year decline in cargo volume for September to 145,500 tonnes. Year-to-date, the airport's cargo traffic dropped by 2.5 per cent to 1.28 million tonnes.
London's Heathrow Airport posted 1.2 per cent year-on-year growth in its September cargo volume to 142,000 tonnes. Volumes at the airport are up 1.5 per cent for the first nine months of the year.
In the Americas Chile-headquartered LATAM Airlines Group's September traffic rose by 2.7 per cent y-o-y to 293 million RTKs. Year-to-date cargo traffic is up 6.9 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Delta Air Lines' September cargo traffic remained flat y-o-y at 187 million RTKs. Year-to-date, the carrier's traffic is up 2.8 per cent.
United Airlines' cargo traffic dropped 1.2 per cent y-o-y in September to 277 million RTKs. Year-to-date, the carrier's traffic is up 4.9 per cent at 2.5 billion RTKs.
Taking a close look at regional performance for September Cathay Pacific Airways in Asia Pacific saw cargo traffic rise by 2.3 per cent year on year to 1.02 billion revenue tonne kilometres (RTKs). Year-to-date, the carrier's cargo traffic was up 6.1 per cent to 8.94 billion RTKs.
Singapore Airlines' cargo traffic declined by 2.9 per cent year on year to 595 million RTKs in September. From January through September, SIA Cargo's traffic declined by a narrow margin of 0.1 per cent to 5.22 billion RTKs, reported Seattle's Cargo Facts.
Beijing-based Air China registered a 2.8 per cent increase in traffic in September compared to the same month in 2017 to 685 million RTKs. Year-to-date, traffic is up 7.1 per cent against the same period last year. Most of the growth is in international cargo traffic, which is up 4.1 per cent for September and 8.6 per cent year-to-date.
Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines posted an 8.7 per cent increase in cargo traffic to 672 million RTKs. Through September, traffic rose by 7.6 per cent to 5.5 billion RTKs. Overall cargo and mail tonnage were up 2.9 per cent year on year in September to 157,280 tonnes.
Taiwan's China Airlines saw September's cargo traffic rise by 3.5 per cent year on year to 513 million RTKs. Year-to-date, the airline's cargo traffic increased by 3.6 per cent compared with the same period in 2017 to 4.33 billion RTKs.
Hong Kong International Airport saw its cargo volumes in September drop by 1.4 per cent year on year to 431,000 tonnes. Year-to-date, the airport's cargo throughput was up 3.3 per cent. The airport said exports declined the most during the month, with cargo volumes to and from Europe and Japan registering the largest decreases.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co Ltd (Pactl) reported its September cargo volume fell by 3.5 per cent y-o-y to 160,300 tonnes. International cargo volumes were down 3.3 per cent.
Inbound volumes were 8.8 per cent lower y-o-y in September, while outbound volumes only saw a one per cent increase. Meanwhile, domestic cargo throughput dropped by 7.8 per cent y-o-y. Year-to-date, cargo handled by PACTL rose by 4.4 per cent to 1.41 million tonnes.
South Korea's Incheon Airport's cargo traffic decreased by 0.9 per cent year on year in September to 254,500 tonnes. Year-to-date volumes rose by 1.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2017.
In Europe and the Middle East, the Lufthansa Group reported September traffic down by 1.6 per cent y-o-y to 923 million RTKs. Year-to-date through September, cargo traffic is up 1.3 per cent to 8.1 billion RTKs.
Air France-KLM posted a 1.5 per cent increase in cargo traffic during September to 726 million RTKs. Year-to-date, cargo traffic grew by just 0.3 per cent year on year to 6.34 billion RTKs.
International Airlines Group reported a 0.4 per cent y-o-y decline in cargo traffic for September to 485 million RTKs. Year-to-date, total cargo traffic was down 0.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2017. Among IAG's subsidiary carriers, Aer Lingus saw the strongest growth for the month, while British Airways recorded a 2.6 per cent drop y-o-y in September.
Turkish Airlines extended its long-running, double-digit growth streak in September when volumes rose by 20 per cent to 118,500 tonnes. Year-to-date, the carrier's volumes are up 24.9 per cent.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) registered a 1.4 per cent decline in cargo traffic for September to 185,000 tonnes. From January through September, FRA's cargo volume decreased by 0.8 per cent to 1.64 million tonnes.
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport reported a 3.2 per cent year-on-year decline in cargo volume for September to 145,500 tonnes. Year-to-date, the airport's cargo traffic dropped by 2.5 per cent to 1.28 million tonnes.
London's Heathrow Airport posted 1.2 per cent year-on-year growth in its September cargo volume to 142,000 tonnes. Volumes at the airport are up 1.5 per cent for the first nine months of the year.
In the Americas Chile-headquartered LATAM Airlines Group's September traffic rose by 2.7 per cent y-o-y to 293 million RTKs. Year-to-date cargo traffic is up 6.9 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Delta Air Lines' September cargo traffic remained flat y-o-y at 187 million RTKs. Year-to-date, the carrier's traffic is up 2.8 per cent.
United Airlines' cargo traffic dropped 1.2 per cent y-o-y in September to 277 million RTKs. Year-to-date, the carrier's traffic is up 4.9 per cent at 2.5 billion RTKs.