Cathay July volume up 18%

Cathay July volume up 18%    Cathay Pacific Airways and sister airline Dragonair saw air freight volume increase 18.1 percent in July, continuing a strong run for air cargo.
   The Hong Kong-based airline said volume rose to 157,374 tons for the month, while its load factor continued to rise, 3.4 percent to 76 percent. Cathay also increased capacity 21.3 percent during the month.
   For the year, volume is up 23.4 percent while capacity has risen 9.2 percent.
   “We saw a significant rise in our capacity in July as all previously parked freighters were returned to service, but the increase in tonnage was almost on a par due to sustained strong demand out of our key markets,' said James Woodrow, Cathay Pacific general manager of cargo sales and marketing. 'Demand to Europe was softer than for transpacific routes, but we have been encouraged by the strengthening of inbound loads into Hong Kong and China, which has helped to drive up our overall cargo and mail load factor.'