Airports around the world ended 2011 with stagnating air freight volumes as a strong start tothe year was outweighed by falling growth rates from May onwards. The outlook for this year is
uncertain.Total air freight volumes at world airports dropped by a fractional 0.7% last year, according tothe representative ‘FreightFlash’ survey of major airports by the international associationAirports Council International (ACI). International freight dropped by 0.7% while domestic volumeswere 0.8% lower than in 2010, it showed. In December, total freight was down by 0.4%, withinternational freight at -0.4% and domestic at -0.6%.
But there were considerable regional differences around the world with a range of ups and downs,the ACI figures showed.
Asia Pacific, the largest regional air freight market, showed a 0.8% decline in December, with a2.2% drop in international volumes but a 3.2% rise in domestic tonnage. For 2011 as a whole, theregion’s airports suffered a 1.9% decline, with international freight down 3% and domestic up by1.8%.
North American airports were also in negative territory last year, according to ACI. Decembervolumes declined 2%, with international down 1.6% and domestic 2.5% lower. The full-year figuresfor the second-largest regional market showed a 1.8% fall in total freight, with internationalvolumes 1.1% lower and domestic down by 2.3%.
In contrast, European airports shook off the continent’s economic woes and grew by 1.9% lastyear, with international tonnage up by 1.7% and the small domestic segment growing 4.4%. InDecember, airports in the third-largest regional market increased freight volumes by 0.8%, withinternational up by 0.7% and domestic growing 1.2%.
After years of rapid growth, the Middle East slowed in 2011, ending the year with total freightdown 0.7%. December volumes, however, were up by 1.7%.
A very positive development last year was shown by the fifth-largest air freight market, LatinAmerica & Caribbean. Airports in the region increased their freight volumes by 5.4% in 2011,with international freight up by 7.2% and domestic flat at -0.2%. December showed a 5.3% rise,including a 6.8% increase for international tonnage and a 0.9% rise for domestic volumes.
The biggest growth story last year, however, was Africa with double-digit increases. The world’ssmallest regional air freight market saw total volumes grow by 10.6%, with the dominantinternational segment up by 12.4%. In December, total freight grew by 13.5% with international upby 16%.
ACI World’s Director of Economics Rafael Echevarne commented: “Air freight appeared to be moreelastic or sensitive to the economic situation within countries and among trading partners. Asgovernments slowly adopt the necessary austerity measures to deleverage their balance sheets,certain economies may experience an economic slowdown in the short run thereby having an impact oninternational trade. However, as business confidence resumes, so will global trade in airfreight.”
Air freight business this year will be strongly affected by trends in the North American andEuropean economies, international trade with Asia, especially China, and whether regions such asLatin America and Africa can maintain their growth rates, according to experts.
