A robust air cargo business propelled turnover for Taiwan’s two main carriers from deficit to profit in October. According to China Airlines (CAL), the company’s balance sheet has gone from red to black since late September, when air cargo rates soared 70 per cent and continue to rise.

To meet increasing demand CAL put two mothballed freighters back into use in October and service of a third mothballed plane is scheduled to resume by early December. Meanwhile, EVA Airways also reported positive growth in its business turnover in October, thanks to rising air cargo business since the end of the third quarter.