Weak start for airfreight
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) released data for global airfreight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), was 1.8% lower in January 2019, compared to the same month in 2018. It was the worst performance in the last three years.
Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometres (AFTKs), rose by 4% year-on-year in January 2019. This was the eleventh month in a row that capacity growth outstripped demand growth.
Only two of six regions reported year-on-year demand growth in January: North America and Africa.
Alexandre de Juniac, Iata director general and CEO: "This is a worsening of a weakening trend that started in mid-2018. Unless protectionist measures and trade tensions diminish there is little prospect of a quick rebound." (ah)