According to IATA reports 2019 marked the worst year for air cargo activity since the economic crisis of 2019. Freight traffic per ton per kilometer (FTK) decreased by 3.3% compared to 2018, and freight volume decreased for the first time since 2012, while the available capacity increased by 2.1%.
This decrease is mainly due to trade tensions, weak growth rate of the latter, with 0.9%, and the slow pace of growth of GDP of strong industrialized countries, in addition to contractors and consumers´ loss of confidence and the strong decline in exports.
Air freight activity is distributed among the regions as follows:
Asia Pacific 34.6%
North America 24.2%
Europe 23.7%
Middle East 13.0%
Latin America 2.8%
Africa 1.8%
Airfreight growth pace varies among carriers of these regions as follows:
Asia Pacific tankers: The carriers of this region experienced the lowest levels of global decline by 5.7% due to international economic tensions and slow growth at the global level, offset by an available capacity of 11%.
North American carriers: Shipping volume decreased by 1.5%, while the available capacity was raised by 1.6%, due to economic tensions and the slowing of US economy.
European Carriers: Airfreight experienced its lowest levels since 2012, with a decrease of 1.1% and an increase of the available capacity of 4.9%. This is due to the industrialized economy downturn and the circumstances surrounding Britain´s withdrawal from the European Union.
Middle East carriers: Air freight decreased by 4.8%, while the available capacity increased by 0.7%, due to supply chain turmoil, weak international trade and restructuring of air carriers.
Latin American carriers: Air freight activity for the year 2019 was stable compared to the year 2018, where the decrease rate was set at 0.4%, taking into account that the available capacity increased by 4.7%.
African Carriers: Airfreight activity recorded a significant increase of 7.4% with an increase in the available capacity of 13.3%. This is due to investment relations with Asia.
