Airport update 25 August

LONDON Heathrow Airport (UK) (pictured) has experienced a third straight monthly decline in cargo volumes. Tonnage fell 1.5 per cent in July, but a seasonal pick-up also gave the airport its busiest month for freight volume since March. From June to July it grew slightly by just under two per cent. Volumes, which grew 15.2 per cent in 2010, were up 2.3 per cent in the first seven months of 2011 over the same period a year ago.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport’s (the Netherlands) profits rose 40.5 per cent to €97.3 million (US$140.5 million) for the first half of 2011. Freight expanded by 5.2 per cent over the period, although June showed a drop of 1.6 per cent.

Air cargo traffic continued to decline at Los Angeles International Airport (US), down seven per cent in July. Most of the loss came from a decrease in freight activity, with mail cargo down less than one per cent. Air cargo activity so far this year was down four per cent.

Total cargo at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (US) fell, year-over-year, for the fourth consecutive month, to 7,321.3 tons (6641.8 metric tonnes) from 7,753.2 tons (7033.58 tonnes). Total airfreight dropped 7.2 per cent in July, to 7,084.3 tons (6426.77 tonnes) from 7,631.6 tons (6923.27 tonnes). US Mail cargo saw a second month of significant growth, rising 94.9 per cent, year-over-year, to 237 tons from 121.6 tons.

Transportation officials in Ohio (US) are considering a $50 million air cargo hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Airfreight is expected to grow by 177 per cent largely due to DHL’s return in 2009; airfreight has already increased by 190 per cent since then.

Singapore Changi airport has recorded a 1.2 per cent leap in cargo volumes, handling around 160,000 tonnes of freight during the month.

Share this story