Worldwide air cargo up 9% in 2004

Worldwide air cargo up 9% in 2004    Worldwide air cargo volume is estimated to have increased 9 percent in 2004 to 79 million metric tons, using extrapolated figures from Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI), which has already gathered data from 829 airports worldwide. ACI reported 72.5 million metric tons in 2003.
   This shows an acceleration of air cargo growth when compared to the 4-percent traffic gain recorded by ACI for 2003.
   Cargo volumes increased in all regions during 2004 with the Asia/Pacific area showing the steepest rise of 14 percent. Middle East cargo was up 13 percent, Africa increased 10 percent, Europe up 8 percent, Latin America/Caribbean gained 7 percent and North America was up 5 percent.
   Memphis remained the top cargo airport worldwide in 2004 as its air-freight volume increased 5 percent to 3.5 million tons. Closing on Memphis in second place was Hong Kong, with 3.1 million tons, up 16 percent; followed by Tokyo Narita, 2.3 million tons, up 10 percent; and Anchorage, 2.7 million tons, up 13 percent. The result for Anchorage includes transit freight.