Freight expectations fall in February

POLITICAL turmoil in north African and Middle Eastern countries has affected international air cargo to the tune of a one per cent cut in traffic during February.

IATA figures reveal a frugal month for growth, showing an increase of 2.3 per cent for cargo demand compared to February 2010. February demand growth was down significantly from the revised 8.7 per cent expansion recorded in January for cargo traffic.

Aside from civil war-torn nations interrupting the flow of cargo, China’s New Year period meant factories were shutdown, thus taking a chunk of cargo out the chain.

February marked a decline in load factors in both the cargo and the passenger business. Freight load factors have deteriorated even faster to 51.6 per cent. This is 4 per cent below their peak in May 2010, on a seasonally adjusted basis.