WORLD AIR CARGO VOLUMES UP 3.1% IN NOVEMBER

WORLD AIR CARGO VOLUMES UP 3.1% IN NOVEMBER    Worldwide air cargo volumes rose 3.1 percent in November to 5.56 million metric tons, compared to the year-earlier period, according to statistics released by Airports Council International.
   North American air cargo volumes in November dipped 0.4 percent to 2.45 million metric tons, while Latin America and the Caribbean saw volumes fall 3.8 percent to 135,263 metric tons.
   Europe's November volume rose 6.8 percent to 1.55 million metric tons, slightly ahead of the Asia-Pacific's total of 1.54 million tons, up 6.2 percent.
   The Mideast recorded the highest percentage of growth, at 8.1 to 235,980 metric tons, followed by Africa, with 6.9 percent, to 44,164 tons.
   Hong Kong squeaked past Memphis as the world's busiest cargo airport in November. Hong Kong's volume rose 6.0 percent to 217,486 metric tons, ahead of Memphis at 208,353 metric tons, up 5.3 percent. Anchorage, Alaska was third with 179,257 metric tons, up 8.3 percent. Beijing was the fastest-growing cargo airport in November, with its volumes growing 27.7 percent.