Dubai drives October’s cargo surge

A Dubai cargo surge helped global air freight traffic maintain an upward trend in volumes with a year-over-year growth rate of five per cent for October, reports Airports Council International (ACI).
Overall worldwide accumulated volumes for the last twelve months rose by 4.6 per cent. International freight volumes jumped up by 5.6 per cent, whereas domestic volumes increased by 3.4 per cent.
Global air freight is set to grow by over four per cent this year compared with 2013, said the association of 591 member airport authorities, which operate 1,861 airports in 177 countries,
The Middle East posted the greatest increase in freight volumes at 13.7 per cent year-over-year for October. Dubai World Central (DWC) is now “a major contributor to overall increases in freight volumes for the region,” said ACI, adding: “Air freight volumes at DWC have increased by over 331 per cent as compared to the previous year.”
Part of the reason for the massive uptick is that DWC has benefited from a switch of freighter operations from Dubai International Airport. 
Africa also achieved double digit growth of 10.7 per cent for the month of October. Johannesburg (JNB), Africa’s largest freight hub, moved up by 7.6 per cent in terms of freight volumes.
Asia-Pacific posted increases in volumes of 4.8 per cent in of October, which is slightly below the twelve-month growth trend of 5.7 per cent: “Nevertheless, the region’s largest freight hubs continue to report gains in volumes. Hong Kong (HKG), Shanghai (PVG) and Incheon (ICN) saw volumes increase by 4.3 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively for the month.”
North America also experienced growth of over four per cent following a weakened air freight market in 2013. Memphis (MEM), North America’s busiest freight airport and FedEx hub, and Louisville (SDF), the UPS hub, grew by 2.2 per cent and 4.2 per cent during October.
Europe experienced “more moderate growth” of 3.6 per cent year-over-year. However, results were mixed across airports in the region.
Frankfurt (FRA) grew only slightly (0.7 per cent), while Paris (CDG) had a decline of one per cent. Amsterdam (AMS) and London (LHR) grew by 7.7 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.
With ongoing weakness in the Brazilian and Argentinian economies, freight volumes in Latin-America-Caribbean increased only slightly, by 1.7 per cent for October.

ACI world economics director Rafael Echevarne said: "Although there has been improvement in the US economy, coupled with greater momentum in international trade volumes in Asia-Pacific, downside risks continue to persist in other regions, particularly in the Euro area."
Echevarne continued: “The German economy has experienced weak industrial production and export growth, which may translate into weakness across its economy. Japan, Russia and Brazil are also stagnating. Many of these factors combined may adversely affect air transport demand."
Did you find this article of interest, if so why not register for a FREE digital subscription to Air Cargo News? – Find out more
Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals Conference 2014, to be held in London during December. To register and find out more…

Share this story

Related Topics

Latest bellyhold airline news

IAG Cargo looks forward to new US flights

IAG Cargo is hoping to capitalise on the addition of a new service from Barcelona to the US from sister…

Read More

Share this story

New platform helps Air NZ customers cut the carbon

Air New Zealand has partnered with Norwegian company CHOOSE to offer two platforms to help its customers measure their carbon…

Read More

Share this story

Cathay cargo tonnage surge outpaces revenue as yields droop

Cathay Pacific Airways carried 1.38 million tonnes of cargo in 2023, up almost 20% on the previous year’s 1.15m tonnes,…

Read More

Share this story

Air Cargo News

Air Cargo News
Established in 1983, Air Cargo News is the leading source of news, information, interviews, analyses and reports to the global airfreight industry. Our leading portfolio includes print, digital and events that give businesses in the airfreight industry the ability to connect with decision-makers in this sector.