European airfreight volumes disappoint

While both the cargo
and passenger numbers
are improving, the year
has started with two
disappointments, according
to Giovanni Bisignani,
director-general and
CEO of the International
Air Transport Association
(Iata).
The first is cargo and
passenger demand
in Europe.
“We anticipate Europe
to post the equivalent of
R16.28-billion in losses
this year – the highest
among the regions,”
Bisignani said. “Weak
European passenger and
freight demand is in line
with our forecast,” he said.
The second area
of dissatisfaction is
the failure to address
ownership issues in the
second stage of talks on
open skies between the
European Union (EU) and
the US.