GLOBAL GROWTH in air traffic was the order of the day last year with the Airports Council International (ACI) announcing that growth in passenger and freight volumes at its member airports more than doubled.
Freight logged a 6.2% growth in 1999 compared to 1998 - and hit the 60.7-million tons mark for the year.
Passenger growth last year was 4.7% - reaching a total of 3-billion passengers.
Major area of increase for freight was, once again, the Far East and Pacific area - with an upward swing of +17% (a lot due to the recovery from the drastic Asian crisis of 1998). But Europe was also busy, recording 12% growth in freight traffic.
Memphis still holds the coveted spot of being the world's busiest cargo airport, with 2.4-million tons of freight being transhipped in 1999. But, with a growth of well-over 20%, Hong Kong's airport jumped into second spot from its previous fourth place.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
