US air freight traffic grew 22.1 per cent in the first quarter, aided by strong growth in international markets, according to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But overall freight traffic for US carriers still remained below that of 2004 after several years of weak or declining cargo traffic for US carriers.

The growth in the first quarter included a 9.8 per cent increase in domestic air cargo, helped by 40 per cent year-on-year gains in domestic traffic by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The domestic cargo traffic fell 12.7 per cent last year, leaving it down nearly 27 per cent from the high point in 2005.

BTS said international freight traffic, measured in cargo tonne kilometres, grew 245.3 per cent in the first quarter over the same three-month period a year ago. Transatlantic jumped 31.3 per cent in the quarter, including a 40.5 per cent increase in March. Transpacific trade grew 25.8 per cent in the first three months of the year.