THE Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has announced that its traffic figures show international air cargo demand measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) rose by 6.5 per cent in January 2011, compared to the same month last year, to 4.9 billion.

    Offered freight capacity increased by 9.3 per cent during the reporting period to 7.5 billion available freight tonne kilometres (FATK), resulting in a 1.7 percentage point decline in the average international cargo load factor to 65.7 per cent.

    Asia Pacific airlines carried a total of 16.1 million international passengers in January, an increase of eight per cent over the same month in 2010.

    In revenue passenger kilometres, international passenger traffic rose 6.5 per cent year on year to 62.9 billion. Available seat capacity grew by 7.8 per cent, with an average international passenger load factor of 78.5 per cent, down 0.9 percentage points.

    "January's freight volumes were reasonably solid, though growth will be moderating compared to the major rebound seen in 2010," said AAPA chief Andrew Herdman.

    "Asia Pacific carriers are projecting further growth at the same time bracing themselves for higher oil prices already pushing up the cost of travel and adding to uncertainties over the outlook."

(Source:http://www.schednet.com)