DUBAI: Middle East carriers’ year-on-year freight volumes rose 6.6 percent in November and capacity improved 3.1 percent, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday.
Middle East airlines, however, posted the slowest annualized growth in international freight ton kilometers (FTKs), the second time in three months when compared with the five-year average of 10.3 percent. FTKs, an industry bellwether, measure how much freight business an airline gets.
But seasonally-adjusted international freight volumes have continued to trend upwards at a rate of 8-10 percent over the past six months, IATA noted in its statement.
“Notably, freight load factors have increased substantially on routes to and from the Middle East to North America, indicating a fall in capacity flown on the route.”
Meanwhile, global air freight demand rose at 8.8 percent in November, versus 5.8 percent a month earlier, despite signs air cargo have passed a cyclical growth peak, IATA said.
Freight capacity, measured in available freight ton kilometers, rose by 4 percent year-on-year in November.
“This was the 16th consecutive month in which demand growth outstripped capacity growth, which is positive for industry load factors, yields, and financial performance,” IATA reported.
“Air freight demand remains robust … and there are several indicators that 2018 will be a good year as well. In particular, buoyant consumer confidence, the growth of international e-commerce and the broad-based global economic upturn are cause for optimism as we head into the New Year,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw freight volumes increase by 8.1 percent and capacity expand by 1.2 percent in November, compared with the same period last year, as the region’s manufacturers continue to enjoy buoyant export order books.
North American carriers meanwhile posted an increase in freight volumes of 9.6 percent for November while capacity rose 3.9 percent. European airlines posted a 9.9 percent improvement in freight demand in November and a capacity growth of 4.7 percent.
Latin American airlines reported 9.4 percent growth in air freight demand in November and an 11.1 percent rise in capacity while African carriers posted the largest year-on-year increase in demand of all regions in November, with freight volumes rising 17.5 percent even as their capacity grew 24 percent.
“Demand has been boosted by very strong growth in Africa-Asia trade which increased by more than 67 percent in the first ten months of the year,” the aviation body said.
Middle East airlines, however, posted the slowest annualized growth in international freight ton kilometers (FTKs), the second time in three months when compared with the five-year average of 10.3 percent. FTKs, an industry bellwether, measure how much freight business an airline gets.
But seasonally-adjusted international freight volumes have continued to trend upwards at a rate of 8-10 percent over the past six months, IATA noted in its statement.
“Notably, freight load factors have increased substantially on routes to and from the Middle East to North America, indicating a fall in capacity flown on the route.”
Meanwhile, global air freight demand rose at 8.8 percent in November, versus 5.8 percent a month earlier, despite signs air cargo have passed a cyclical growth peak, IATA said.
Freight capacity, measured in available freight ton kilometers, rose by 4 percent year-on-year in November.
“This was the 16th consecutive month in which demand growth outstripped capacity growth, which is positive for industry load factors, yields, and financial performance,” IATA reported.
“Air freight demand remains robust … and there are several indicators that 2018 will be a good year as well. In particular, buoyant consumer confidence, the growth of international e-commerce and the broad-based global economic upturn are cause for optimism as we head into the New Year,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw freight volumes increase by 8.1 percent and capacity expand by 1.2 percent in November, compared with the same period last year, as the region’s manufacturers continue to enjoy buoyant export order books.
North American carriers meanwhile posted an increase in freight volumes of 9.6 percent for November while capacity rose 3.9 percent. European airlines posted a 9.9 percent improvement in freight demand in November and a capacity growth of 4.7 percent.
Latin American airlines reported 9.4 percent growth in air freight demand in November and an 11.1 percent rise in capacity while African carriers posted the largest year-on-year increase in demand of all regions in November, with freight volumes rising 17.5 percent even as their capacity grew 24 percent.
“Demand has been boosted by very strong growth in Africa-Asia trade which increased by more than 67 percent in the first ten months of the year,” the aviation body said.
