IATA: air cargo sees 9.4 pct demand rise in October

IATA: air cargo sees 9.4 pct demand rise in October

Photo source: DB Schenker

Demand for air cargo continues to hover well above pre-crisis levels as the demand constraints have eased slightly, the International Air transport Association (IATA) says in its latest report. 

Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), was up 9.4 percent compared to October 2019, and 10.4 percent up for international operations, IATA says.  Capacity constraints remain 7.2 percent below pre-Covid-19 and for international operations this figure is 10.4 percent lower.

Economic conditions continue to support air cargo growth but are slightly weaker than in the previous months. IATA notes that supply chain disruptions and the resulting delivery delays have led to long supplier delivery times. This typically results in manufacturers using air transport, which is quicker, to recover time lost during the production process. The global Supplier Delivery Time Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) reached an all-time low of 34.8 in October; values below 50 are favorable for air cargo.

IATA further adds that the cost-competitiveness of air cargo relative to that of container shipping remains favorable.

“October data reflected an overall positive outlook for air cargo. Supply chain congestion continued to push manufacturers towards the speed of air cargo, said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

He added that the impact of government reactions to the Omicron variant is a concern. “If it dampens travel demand, capacity issues will become more acute. After almost two years of COVID-19, governments have the experience and tools to make better data-driven decisions than the mostly knee-jerk reactions to restrict travel that we have seen to date. Restrictions will not stop the spread of Omicron. Along with urgently reversing these policy mistakes, the focus of governments should be squarely on ensuring the integrity of supply chains and increasing the distribution of vaccines,” Walsh said.

Antonov IATA Air Cargo
Photo source: Antonov Airlines

Asia-Pacific volumes almost double month-on-month

Asia-Pacific airlines saw their international air cargo volumes increase 7.9 percent in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2019. This was close to a doubling in growth compared to the previous month’s 4 percent expansion. The improvement was partly driven by increased capacity on Europe-Asia routes as several important passenger routes reopened.

Belly capacity between the continents was down 28.3 percent in October, much better than the 37.9 percent fall in September. International capacity in the region eased slightly in October, down 12.9 percent compared to the previous year, a significant improvement over the 18.9 percent drop in September.

North American international cargo volumes keep pace

North American carriers posted an 18.8 percent increase in international cargo volumes in October 2021 compared to October 2019. This was on par with September’s performance (18.9 percent). Demand for faster shipping times and strong US retail sales are underpinning the North American performance. International capacity was down 0.6 percent compared to October 2019, a significant improvement from the previous month.

European and Middle Eastern Carriers see similar growth figures

European carriers saw an 8.6 percent increase in international cargo volumes in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2019, an improvement compared to the previous month (5.8 percent), says IATA. Manufacturing activity, orders and long supplier delivery times remain favorable to air cargo demand. International capacity was down 7.4 percent compared to pre-crisis levels, a significant improvement from the previous month which was down 12.8 percent on pre-crisis levels.

Middle Eastern carriers experienced a 9.4 percent rise in international cargo volumes in October 2021 versus October 2019, a significant drop in performance compared to the previous month (18.4 percent). This was due to a deterioration in traffic on several key routes such as Middle East-Asia, and Middle East-North America. International capacity was down 8.6 percent compared to October 2019, a decrease compared to the previous month (4 percent).

African airlines post highest growth while Latin American carriers see decline

African airlines saw international cargo volumes increase by 26.7 percent in October, a deterioration from the previous month (35 percent) but still the largest increase of all regions. International capacity was 9.4 percent higher than pre-crisis levels, the only region in positive territory, albeit on small volumes.

Latin American carriers reported a decline of 6.6 percent in international cargo volumes in October compared to the 2019 period, which was the weakest performance of all regions, but an improvement compared to the previous month (a 17 percent fall). Capacity in October was down 28.3 percent on pre-crisis levels, a decrease from September, which was down 20.8 percent on the same month in 2019.

Author: Adnan Bajic

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IATA: air cargo sees 9.4 pct demand rise in October | Project Cargo Journal
IATA: air cargo sees 9.4 pct demand rise in October

IATA: air cargo sees 9.4 pct demand rise in October

Photo source: DB Schenker

Demand for air cargo continues to hover well above pre-crisis levels as the demand constraints have eased slightly, the International Air transport Association (IATA) says in its latest report. 

Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), was up 9.4 percent compared to October 2019, and 10.4 percent up for international operations, IATA says.  Capacity constraints remain 7.2 percent below pre-Covid-19 and for international operations this figure is 10.4 percent lower.

Economic conditions continue to support air cargo growth but are slightly weaker than in the previous months. IATA notes that supply chain disruptions and the resulting delivery delays have led to long supplier delivery times. This typically results in manufacturers using air transport, which is quicker, to recover time lost during the production process. The global Supplier Delivery Time Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) reached an all-time low of 34.8 in October; values below 50 are favorable for air cargo.

IATA further adds that the cost-competitiveness of air cargo relative to that of container shipping remains favorable.

“October data reflected an overall positive outlook for air cargo. Supply chain congestion continued to push manufacturers towards the speed of air cargo, said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

He added that the impact of government reactions to the Omicron variant is a concern. “If it dampens travel demand, capacity issues will become more acute. After almost two years of COVID-19, governments have the experience and tools to make better data-driven decisions than the mostly knee-jerk reactions to restrict travel that we have seen to date. Restrictions will not stop the spread of Omicron. Along with urgently reversing these policy mistakes, the focus of governments should be squarely on ensuring the integrity of supply chains and increasing the distribution of vaccines,” Walsh said.

Antonov IATA Air Cargo
Photo source: Antonov Airlines

Asia-Pacific volumes almost double month-on-month

Asia-Pacific airlines saw their international air cargo volumes increase 7.9 percent in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2019. This was close to a doubling in growth compared to the previous month’s 4 percent expansion. The improvement was partly driven by increased capacity on Europe-Asia routes as several important passenger routes reopened.

Belly capacity between the continents was down 28.3 percent in October, much better than the 37.9 percent fall in September. International capacity in the region eased slightly in October, down 12.9 percent compared to the previous year, a significant improvement over the 18.9 percent drop in September.

North American international cargo volumes keep pace

North American carriers posted an 18.8 percent increase in international cargo volumes in October 2021 compared to October 2019. This was on par with September’s performance (18.9 percent). Demand for faster shipping times and strong US retail sales are underpinning the North American performance. International capacity was down 0.6 percent compared to October 2019, a significant improvement from the previous month.

European and Middle Eastern Carriers see similar growth figures

European carriers saw an 8.6 percent increase in international cargo volumes in October 2021 compared to the same month in 2019, an improvement compared to the previous month (5.8 percent), says IATA. Manufacturing activity, orders and long supplier delivery times remain favorable to air cargo demand. International capacity was down 7.4 percent compared to pre-crisis levels, a significant improvement from the previous month which was down 12.8 percent on pre-crisis levels.

Middle Eastern carriers experienced a 9.4 percent rise in international cargo volumes in October 2021 versus October 2019, a significant drop in performance compared to the previous month (18.4 percent). This was due to a deterioration in traffic on several key routes such as Middle East-Asia, and Middle East-North America. International capacity was down 8.6 percent compared to October 2019, a decrease compared to the previous month (4 percent).

African airlines post highest growth while Latin American carriers see decline

African airlines saw international cargo volumes increase by 26.7 percent in October, a deterioration from the previous month (35 percent) but still the largest increase of all regions. International capacity was 9.4 percent higher than pre-crisis levels, the only region in positive territory, albeit on small volumes.

Latin American carriers reported a decline of 6.6 percent in international cargo volumes in October compared to the 2019 period, which was the weakest performance of all regions, but an improvement compared to the previous month (a 17 percent fall). Capacity in October was down 28.3 percent on pre-crisis levels, a decrease from September, which was down 20.8 percent on the same month in 2019.

Author: Adnan Bajic

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