Air France-KLM, Europe's largest scheduled cargo carrier, has reported a continuing fall in cargo volumes, down 19.2 per cent in March compared to a year ago and the fourth consecutive month that its cargo traffic has fallen by around 20 per cent. The drop continued apace, despite an 8.9 per cent cut in capacity, excluding Martinair, the all-cargo and charter carrier that was consolidated in January. The cargo load factor, also excluding Martinair, fell 7.8 points to 61.4 per cent. Including … [Read more...] about AF-KLM cargo slump continues in March
recession
Brussels Airlines down on fuel hedges
Brussels Airlines has reported a €12.2 million net loss for last year, a reversal from the €23.1 million profit earned in 2007, due largely to fuel hedging losses. The carrier remained profitable on the operating level at €1.5 million as a result of what it said was "capacity optimisation and strict budgetary control." Revenue increased 7 per cent year-on-year to €984.6 million while passenger numbers fell 6.8 per cent to 5.5 million. … [Read more...] about Brussels Airlines down on fuel hedges
US freight index shows further March decline
A key measure of industrial shipping in the US has shown a further 3.5 per cent decline from February to March after offering a glimmer of hope in February when it showed its first fractional gain in six months. The Cass Freight Index for shipments declined 22 per cent in March from the same period a year earlier. Freight transportation spending also turned negative after a slim month-to-month gain in February. The measure of expenditures fell 2.1 per cent from February to March and was down a … [Read more...] about US freight index shows further March decline
Emirates predicts cargo recovery starting from 3Q
Despite the precipitous declines of the past few months, Emirates SkyCargo is predicting a recovery in cargo volumes in the last quarter of 2009. "The dramatic fall was in November and December," said Emirates SkyCargo senior vice president Ram Menen. "There will be stability in the next four to five months and some semblance of growth in the last quarter of 2009," he told reporters Dubai recently. While global freight volumes were 22.1 per cent below their 2008 levels for February, according to … [Read more...] about Emirates predicts cargo recovery starting from 3Q
Cargo drops level off at LAX
Cargo drops level off at LAX Precipitous cargo declines at Los Angeles International Airport have leveled off after four straight months of declines of more than 20 per cent as the airport's freight operations suffered under collapsing exports out of Asia. February's 23.1 per cent drop, year-on-year, in tonnage also marks the seventh straight month of double-digit declines at the US' largest transpacific air cargo gateway. The February figure was however, slightly better than the 24.5 per cent … [Read more...] about Cargo drops level off at LAX
Decline continues for European carriers
Air cargo has "all but collapsed," according to the Association of European Airlines (AEA), who said traffic volumes were down by around a fifth for the first two months of the year, the worst figures on record. Passenger traffic plunged nearly 5 per cent in the first two months of the year and could fall another 10 per cent in March as the economic downturn continues. It said it would normally expect a 4 per cent to 5 per cent increase in traffic "so current levels are approaching 10 per cent … [Read more...] about Decline continues for European carriers
