International air freight on the up

International air freight on the up    International air freight showed “promising” growth in the first couple of months of 2005, according to a number of industry groups.
   The Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI) said international air cargo shipments in February increased 5.4 percent to 2.6 million metric tons.
   The ACI reported that North America’s international volumes were down 1.7 percent to 358,800 metric tons, while volumes in Europe rose 4.9 percent to 634,400 metric tons. Volumes dropped 1.5 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean to 97,600 metric tons. Middle East volumes improved 10.5 percent to 185,900 metric tons with Asia-Pacific cargo up 7.2 percent to 1.2 million metric tons. Africa volumes showed the highest growth with a 28.8 percent surge to 33,800 metric tons.
   For the year to date, ACI said international air freight has risen 4.3 percent to 5.2 million metric tons.
   The International Air Transport Association, also located in Geneva, said international freight traffic was up 5.4 percent in February and 5.3 percent for the first two months of the year.
   “February, traditionally the slowest month for international traffic, brought both good news and solid growth. The recovery in freight has stretched to three months with growth of over 5 percent resulting from strength in international trade,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and chief executive officer. “February’s growth supports a new and cautious optimism that is returning to the industry.”
   According to the latest statistics provided by the Washington, D.C.-based Air Transport Association of America (ATA), international air freight and express shipments carried by U.S. airlines increased 4.6 percent to 1 billion revenue ton-miles in February, from 960 million revenue ton-miles in the same month 2005.
   After two months, ATA members’ international air freight and express shipments are up 3.7 percent to 2.02 billion revenue ton-miles, compared to 1.95 billion revenue ton-miles after the same period in 2004.
   ATA member airlines, who control more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic, are: Aloha, Alaska, America West, American, ATA, Continental (including Micronesia), Delta, FedEx, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, United, UPS and US Airways.