Korean Air keeps international air freight top spot

Korean Air keeps international air freight top spot    Korean Air maintained its position as the world’s top international air freight mover in 2005, according to statistics provided by the International Air Transport Association.
   Korean Air posted 8 billion FTKs (freight ton-kilometers) in 2005, down 2.2 percent from 8.2 billion FTKs in 2004. The Seoul-based airline attained the top ranking for the first time in 2004, overtaking Lufthansa who had occupied the number one rank since 1986.
   “Our goal has been to claim and retain the top cargo position and we’re accomplishing this,” said Yang Ho Cho, Korean Air’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We are entering new markets, creating a customer-oriented business model and establishing strategic partnerships to ensure our success and meet our customers needs.”
   Lufthansa again finished second with 7.7 billion FTKs, a drop of 4.5 percent from 8 billion FTKs in the previous year.
   Three more Asian carriers — Singapore Airlines (7.6 billion FTKs); Cathay Pacific (6.5 billion FTKs) and China Airlines (6 billion FTKs) — made up the top five of IATA’s international table.
   Among the larger U.S. airlines, FedEx was ranked 6th with 5.6 billion FTKs; UPS 14th (3.1 billion FTKs); Northwest 18th (2.4 billion FTKs); American Airlines 19th (2.3 billion FTKs); United Airlines 20th (2 billion FTKs); Delta 26th (2 billion FTKs); Continental 35th (910 million FTKs); and US Airways 48th (394 million FTKs).
   IATA also ranked airlines by domestic traffic, putting FedEx, UPS and Northwest as the three largest domestic air freight carriers worldwide. Including both international and domestic results, FedEx scored top spot with 14.6 billion FTKs, ahead of Korean Air in second with 8.3 billion FTKs.