American sees two-year high in May

AMERICAN Airlines (AA) says that May was its busiest month for airfreight in nearly two years. Traffic for the month grew nearly 23 per cent over the same month a year ago, to 169 million cargo ton miles, its highest point since August 2008.

The result was also 13.4 per cent higher than the month before, despite there being a 3.8 per cent reduction in trans-Atlantic capacity.

This leaves the year-to-date 20.4 per cent higher than the same period last year.

AA has also just launched its first ever direct services between Chicago and Beijing. Operating a wide-bodied B777, AA Cargo will have a capacity of 150 metric tonnes per week between the two cities.

AA Cargo’s GSA in Beijing will be Brilliant Jet Air Service.