Demand for international cargo in September was 5.4 per cent below September 2008 levels, while load factors for passenger and cargo returned to pre-crisis levels of 77.1 per cent and 50.8 per cent respectively, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Overall, international passenger traffic was almost unchanged in September 2009 compared to September 2008 –up 0.3 per cent, although Middle East carriers saw an 18.2 per cent year-on-year increase.
However, IATA said, the ‘improvement’ needs to be viewed against an exceptionally weak September 2008 when traffic fell sharply (-2.9 per cent for passenger and -7.7 per cent for cargo).
“It is far too early to call this a recovery. The worst may be over in terms of the fall in demand, but yields continue to be a disaster and costs are rising. The airline industry remains firmly in the red with a fragile business environment,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and ceo.
Airlines continue to carefully manage capacity. Seasonally adjusted passenger capacity has remained unchanged throughout the year while cargo capacity has edged up only slightly in the last two months. Load factors have risen to pre-crisis levels which should help to correct the precipitous fall in yields, Bisignani said.
Airlines also are flying fewer hours (-3 per cent for some aircraft types), raising non-fuel unit costs. At the same time, oil prices have risen to above US$75 per barrel (Brent), considerably higher than the US$43 per barrel level at the start of the year.
Aircargo Asia Pacific
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