AAPA cargo volume growth keeps up rapid pace

Despite predictions of a slow-down in year-over-year volume growth likely to coincide with last year’s September uptick in cargo volumes, September 2017 kept up the double-digit increase in cargo traffic volumes, at least among Asia-based cargo carriers.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported y-o-y growth of 11.4 percent in September, when freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) rose to their third-highest monthly level for 2017, up 2.2 percent over the prior month. So far in 2017, FTKs have increased by 10.7 percent among the AAPA member carriers, which have benefitted from strong global trade. Available freight tonne kilometers have risen by just 4.3 percent over the same time, leading to a more positive trend in load factors.

Still, even with the increasing volumes, yields have been under pressure due to increasing competition among carriers. However, AAPA director general Andrew Herdman said that “the impressive growth seen in both international air travel and air cargo demand this year provides an encouraging backdrop” for the industry as AAPA’s assembly of presidents began in Taipei today.

Regulatory issues and security are expected to be two of the main topics at the event, with AAPA calling for better cooperation between governments, airports and airlines on security issues.