Low-cost carrier AirAsia wants to increase its cargo business by targeting clients that are more price sensitive and less time sensitive, the Malaysian Business Times reported.

The airline predicts it will be able to grow its cargo revenue by half in 2009 from the US$11.5 million recorded last year. While cargo revenue represents roughly 1.5 per cent of the group’s topline in 2008, the airline hopes to increase the contribution to 10 per cent by 2011.

The airline, which utilises less than 20 per cent of the aircraft belly space for cargo now, has the potential to utilise up to 40 per cent of its cargo space for core routes including Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Melbourne, London, Bangkok and Jakarta.

Last year AirAsia had been in discussions with Leisure Cargo to outsource its cargo space, but talks ended without an agreement.