Upswing In Air Cargo Brightens Cautious Demand Outlook
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released traffic results for November 2012 which showed an improvement in air freight demand. Air freight volumes edged up 1.6 percent over the same period after declining 2.6 percent in October, year to year. November air freight volumes increased 2.4 percent on October. This reflects a shift in seasonal shopping to online retailers, which depend heavily on air cargo. It also shows improved consumer confidence in the US. Seasonally-adjusted air freight volumes have now risen back to the levels of mid-2012, after declines in the third quarter. North American carriers increased freight traffic by 1.7 percent, and cut capacity by 0.6 percent, compared to November 2011. European airlines’ year-on-year freight traffic was flat, and capacity grew just 0.3 percent.
