Fall in global airfreight demand

Data released by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) shows that global airfreight markets showed a fall in air cargo demand in July compared to the same month last year.

Airfreight volumes measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) fell 0.6%, in line with weaker global economic growth.

The decline was broad-based across all regions with the exception of Africa and the Middle East.

Asia-Pacific carriers saw a fall in FTKs of 1.9% in July compared to July 2014, and capacity expanding 5.3%; European carriers reported a fall in demand in June of 1.5% and capacity rising 3.9%; North American airlines a decline of 3.7% year-on-year and capacity growing 5.4%; and Latin America a fall in demand of 5.1%, and capacity expanding 3.2%.

Middle Eastern carriers, meantime, saw the strongest growth with demand expanding by 10.8% and capacity rising 18.3%; while African carriers experienced growth in demand of 3.6%, and capacity rising by 11.4% - despite the underperformance of the continent’s two powerhouses, Nigeria and SA.