Airport cargo volumes up in September

Global airport freight tonnage rose by 6.2 percent over the same period in 2013.    Cargo volumes at airports around the world rose by 6.2 percent, year-over-year in September, according to Airports Council International.
   Internationally bound freight rose by 6.5 percent, while domestic freight was up by 5.5 percent.  
   Much of this growth occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, where volumes were up by 6.1 percent in September, and North America. Hong Kong International Airport propelled the Asian growth by turning in a growth rate of 5.8 percent, and the airport in Louisville helped the North American numbers along with a 7.7-percent gain; Memphis International Airport’s numbers were up for the month by 4.5 percent.
   Latin American cargo figures were down by 1.4 percent, compared to September 2013’s figures.
   ACI World’s Economics Director Rafael Echevarne said that despite sluggish economic news throughout the world, there is still “a glimmer of hope” for airfreight.
   “Volumes have remained above 2013 levels for all of 2014 up to the fourth quarter,” he stated. “This is cause for optimism given that the air freight markets were particularly sluggish over the last three years. Growth in global freight volumes will likely end the year in the realm of 4 percent for 2014, as compared to the previous year’s volumes.”
   Looking at airlines worldwide, the International Air Transport Association measured a 5.2-percent, year-over-year, rise in cargo volumes in September.