International freight traffic continued a 12-month run of sluggish growth with a 2.3% year-on-yearincrease in March 2007, according to the latest monthly worldwide airline traffic figures from The
International Air Transport Association (IATA). Over the first three months of this year, freighttraffic (RTKs) rose by a moderate 2.7%. Available freight capacity (ATKs) was up by 4.3% in Marchand by 5.4% in the first quarter.“For freight, competition for other modes of transport — particularly sea — is holding growthbelow our forecast of 5.5% for 2007,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
The Middle East was again the main growth region, with a 12.7% increase in traffic in Marchand 14.6% Q1 rise. Asia grew 4.5% in March and by 4.3% over the first three months, with strongoutbound export volumes but lower load factors on inbound aircraft due to trade imbalances, IATAnoted.
There were slight declines in the two key markets of Europe (-1%) and North America (-0.9%)in March while Latin America dropped by 6.9% due to airline consolidation. Over the first quarter,Europe was down 0.2%, North America grew 0.1% and Latin America slumped 7.2%.
IATA represents 250 airlines comprising 94% of international scheduled air traffic.
