Middle Eastern carrier show positive increase in freight tonne kilometres, IATA reports

Over the previous six months, major Middle Eastern carriers in the region have reduced their rate of route expansion, which accounts for the slowdown in freight volume growth.

 

In general, FTKs fell by 5.6% in February compared to February 2015, after being affected by US port strikes and the Lunar New Year falling in February.

 

“In the absence of an imminent resurgence of demand, the importance of improving the value proposition with modernized processes—the e-freight vision—remains a top priority,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO.

 

For Asia-Pacific carrier, there was a 12.4% drop, the largest decline out of any region, followed by Northern American airlines who suffered a 4% fall.

 

African carriers suffered a 1.7% decline, after the regions largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, have suffered form an 18 month commodity slump.

 

European airlines faced a 2.4% decline in demand, leaving European freight volumes barely any higher than they were eight years ago.

 

Latin American also faced a positive growth, increasing by 2.7%.