Green shoots started to push up in the world air freight market in September with growth fordomestic volumes, including a 16.3% surge in Asia, and a further stabilisation of overall volumes,
the latest monthly figures from international airports association ACI show.Total freight handled worldwide in September 2009 dropped by 2.9% year-on-year. Internationalfreight fell by 5.8% but domestic volumes grew by 3.7%, ACI said. Over the first nine months of2009, worldwide volumes were down by 13.9%, with international volumes 17% lower and domestic downby 7.8%.
The September figures represent an accelerating upward trend, driven by domestic results, andmay indicate a quicker recovery than expected, ACI commented. The recovery drivers are Asia Pacificand the Middle East, although all regions have clearly improved from reported lows earlier in theyear.
At a regional level, airports in Asia Pacific reported a slight growth rate of 1.3% inSeptember volumes. Domestic freight volumes showed a strong 16.3% rise while international airfreight was 4% lower. Over the first nine months, total air freight in the region was 12.6% lower,with domestic volumes up 1.2% and international volumes down 17.2%.
In North America, total air freight declined 3.8% in September. Domestic traffic was 0.3%lower and international volumes dropped 10.3%. Over the first nine months, North American airportshad a 14.6% drop in freight volumes, with domestic traffic down 10.9% and international traffic22.2% lower.
European airports reported freight volumes down 7.5% in September and 17.1% lower over thefirst nine months. International air freight was 7.5% lower in September and 17.8% down over thefirst nine months.
The Middle East recorded low growth of 0.8% in September, leaving nine-month volumes at 0%.In Latin America, volumes dropped 9.8% in September and were 18.9% lower between January andSeptember. Africa showed a 14.8% drop for September and a 13.2% fall for the year to date.
Commenting on overall passenger and freight trends at the ACI annual conference in KualaLumpur this week, Director General ACI World Angela Gittens said: “The downward trend began to easein the second quarter and now in the fourth quarter we are seeing growth. We are not just seeing ‘less worse’ results but some clear signs of new growth in selected domestic markets. Of course, weare comparing the latest results to September 2008 when traffic was already dropping due toeconomic conditions. Nonetheless the flattening of the trend curve is a good sign. It may signal asustained trend since domestic traffic is often a precursor to international traffic recovery.”
