Air cargo demand at Asia-Pacific carriers grew by 33% in March compared with the slump last year, underpinned by a robust recovery in international trade.
Preliminary figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) indicated that both passenger and air cargo markets continued to show further gains in March as a result of the region’s dynamic economic recovery.
Freight capacity grew by a more restrained 12.6%. As a result, the average international air cargo load factor for Asia Pacific carriers jumped 11.3% to reach 73.1%.
CargoNews Asia reported that Andrew Herdman, AAPA director-general, said, "These figures provide further confirmation that the global economic recovery is well underway, led by quicker growth in leading Asia Pacific economies, but also accompanied by welcome signs of a pickup in both business and consumer confidence in major developed markets."