The International Air Transport Association said airlines recorded 6.1 per cent increase in total global air freight in September.
The association’s Communications Department disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
It stated that the increase was the fastest pace of growth since the disruption to global freight operations by the US West Coast seaports strike in February, 2015.
It said that freight capacity, measured in available freight ton kilometres, increased by 4.7 per cent during the period, while load factors remained low, keeping yields under pressure.
IATA said that airlines in all regions, except Latin America, reported an increase in year-on-year demand during the period, adding that the results had continued to vary considerably.
It said, “IATA statistics cover international and domestic scheduled air freight for IATA member and non-member airlines.
“Total freight traffic market shares by region of carriers in terms of FTK are Asia-Pacific, 38.9 per cent; Europe, 22.3 per cent; North America, 20.5 per cent and Middle East, 14 per cent.
“Latin America recorded 2.8 per cent while Africa recorded 1.5 per cent growth during the month.”
The association said that September’s positive performance coincided with an apparent turnaround in new export orders in recent months.
It added that some unique factors that may have also contributed to the performance included rush replacement of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices during the month and impact of Hanjin marine shipping line collapse.
The statement quoted Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General, as saying, “demand for air cargo strengthened in September, although with growth in world trade virtually at a standstill, air cargo sector still faces some major hurdles.
“The conclusion of the EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement is good news for the economies involved and for air cargo.
“Growth is the way to overcome the world’s current economic challenges.
“The EU-Canada agreement is a welcome respite from the current protectionist rhetoric and positive results should soon be evident and governments everywhere should take note and move in the same direction.”
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