Demand for air freight in September was 6.1 per cent up on last year, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres, was the fastest pace of growth since the disruption caused by the US West Coast seaports strike in February 2015.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO, said: “Although with growth in world trade virtually at a standstill, the air cargo sector still faces some major hurdles. We did have some encouraging news.
“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. Governments everywhere should take note and move in the same direction.”
Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometres, increased 4.7 per cent over the same period. Load factors remained historically low, keeping yields under pressure.
