Airlines have seen a consistent increase in cargo tonnage throughout 2024 as demand for airfreight grows.According to figures released by Cathay Pacific, the airline carried 134 551 tonnes of cargo in March this year, an increase of 10.5% compared with the same period in 2023. April was also a good month, with the airline carrying 117 428 tonnes of cargo, an increase of 7.4% compared to April last year.In May, the Emirates Group announced it had hit record profit, revenue and cash balance levels. The carrier said it had carried 2.2 million tonnes of goods around the world in 2023-24, up 18% from the previous year, as increased passenger operations expanded available cargo capacity, and the leasing of three 747 freighters during the year unlocked immediate capacity to serve demand on busy routes. According to the airline, this ref lects the high customer demand for specialist logistics solutions. Despite continued challenges in global logistics, the cargo division reported a solid revenue of $3.7 billion, contributing 11% to the airline’s total revenue.Leading African airline Ethiopian Airlines has also confirmed growing demand. Earlier this year the airline inaugurated a $55-million e-commerce facility at Bole International Airport. In terms of cargo, airlines are expecting e-commerce demand to remain strong for the foreseeable future, driving up volumes.
