

Air Cargo Traffic Edged Upward in May and June
First half volumes were down year-over-year, Airports Council International says
Global air cargo traffic contracted in the first half of 2012 despite growth in both May and June, according to the latest figures from Airports Council International.
The 1.3 percent year-over-year global volume gains recorded at airports in May were followed by 1 percent growth in June, ACI said.
The June figures were bolstered by improved throughput at hubs in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, but anchored by eight of the top 10 U.S. hubs seeing negative growth and “stagnant” European domestic demand.
ACI said freight traffic remained sluggish because of “fragile” business confidence.
“While overall growth is relatively uniform and stable across passenger markets from month to month, the freight market is more heterogeneous across various regions,” said Rafael Echevarne, ACI World’s economics director.
“Burgeoning markets in the Middle East and Latin America-Caribbean are less encumbered by the slowdown that is sweeping across other regions.
“Though the economic outlook is ominous for many major economies, emerging markets continue to be fuelled by their strong domestic demand, and persevere despite these downside risks.”