ACI REPORTS SLIGHT BOOST FOR AIR CARGO IN 2002

ACI REPORTS SLIGHT BOOST FOR AIR CARGO IN 2002    Air cargo shipments worldwide increased 4.3 percent in 2002, to 64.39 million metric tons, according to Airports Council International (ACI).
   North America volumes were flat in 2002 at 26.32 million tons, while volumes in Europe rose 1 percent to 12.99 million tons, and declined 3 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.45 million tons. Middle East volumes increased 11.5 percent to 2.71 million tons, and Asia-Pacific cargo rose 13.1 percent to 18.91 million tons, while Africa volumes improved 1.8 percent to 1.01 million tons.
   Memphis remained the top cargo airport worldwide in 2002 as air-freight volume climbed 29 percent to 3.4 million tons. Following Memphis was Hong Kong with 2.5 million tons, up 20 percent; Tokyo Narita, 2.0 million tons, up 19 percent; and Los Angeles, 1.8 million tons, down 2 percent.
   Shanghai Pudong was the fastest-growing cargo airport in 2002, posting an 80 percent increase to 634,966 tons.
   ACI’s full figures, which are based on data from 760 airports, are available online at https://www.airports.org.