Cathay’s cargo up 3.8% in April

Cathay’s cargo up 3.8% in April    Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific transported 96,663 tons of cargo in April, an increase of 3.8 percent compared to in same month last year.
   The cargo load factor increased 1 points over April 2005 to 68.6 percent.
   For the year-to-date, Cathay Pacific has moved 381,347 tons of cargo, up 12.7 percent from 338,356 tons moved in the same period 2005. The airline’s cargo load factor for the year has increased 2.2 points to 67.3 percent.
   “Easter is always slower for cargo, yet outbound freighters were still good with continued high demand from China exporters. Regional markets such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka have grown fast and will be ones to watch in the future as well. Fuel costs trended upwards through April and continued to rise in early May, adding further negative pressure to the bottom line,” said Ron Mathison, Cathay Pacific’s director and general manager cargo.