Cathay Pacific figures near pre-crisis levels

CATHAY Pacific and Dragonair carried 152,808 tonnes of cargo and mail in April. This is up 20 per cent from 121,966 metric tonnes last May’s low and 7.9 per cent above May 2008’s 140,698 tonnes.

The cargo and mail load factor was 79.3 per cent, a rise of 13.6 percentage points, while capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, was up by 6.4 per cent. For the year to date, tonnage has risen by 24.1 per cent compared to a capacity increase of 1.1 per cent.

Cathay Pacific general manager cargo mainland China and Hong Kong, James Woodrow, said: “Traffic on our key European routes was hit by the volcanic ash cloud disruptions, but we were able to redeploy the capacity to good effect on routes to India, the Middle East and North America. Demand across the network remained strong throughout the month, particular out of the key Hong Kong and Shanghai markets.

“Where possible we have been mounting extra sectors and charter flights in response to market needs, and we announced recently that our three remaining parked freighters will soon return from the desert.”