Asian airlines finally growing again
Preliminary January 2021 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines showed that while airline operations remain depressed, air cargo demand keeps improving as world trade starts to gain renewed momentum.
Growth in the e-commerce sector supported air cargo markets. In January 2021, air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) recorded an increase of 0.3% - marginal, but the first year-on-year growth in many months, partly boosted by higher demand for air shipments ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Offered freight capacity fell by 25%, reflecting the prevailing capacity crunch as a result of the decline in passenger bellyhold space. The international freight load factor averaged 71.6%, 18% above to what was recorded in January 2020. (ah)