Asian airlines lead industry recovery

Figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) proudly boast that Asian air traffic results showed continuing robust demand in air freight for November. International air cargo traffic demand, expressed in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), registered 10.6% growth to 5 822-million FTKs in November compared to the same month in the previous year. A similar increase in offered freight capacity left the average international air cargo load factor for Asia Pacific carriers unchanged at 70.7% for the month. In the 11 months ended November 2010, AAPA carriers witnessed a dramatic 26.3% growth in international air cargo volumes to 58 319-million FTKs – driven by a sharp rebound in global trade. AAPA director general, Andrew Herdman, said: “Asia Pacific-based airlines have led the industry recovery this year, benefiting from robust demand from and within Asia. “Air cargo rebounded very strongly this year, although the reported monthly growth rates are beginning to moderate as supply chain inventories are rebalanced.”