Asia increasingly important for Miami air cargo

Asia increasingly important for Miami air cargo Although Latin America and the Caribbean remain the primary markets for Miami International Airport's thriving international air freight business, Asia has become a key element in air freight growth.
   Chris Mangos, director of marketing for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, said that while air freight tonnage has continued to grow at the airport, the most noteworthy change has been an uptick in the value of freight. In 2006, the air freight value $3 billion, and the single-largest factor was new freight originating in China, Japan, Korea and India.
   'It was spread across the board, but Asia was a very important element,' Mangos said at a meeting of the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, Wednesday.
   Air Korea started the first direct service to from Asia to Miami in 2006, with two roundtrip flights a week. It has since increased the frequency to five times a week.
   Taiwan-based China Air has also increased its service frequency this year, last week making it a daily service.
   Mangos said Miami-Dade is also working with Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific to start service to Miami, possibly in 2008.