Global air cargo demand continued to decline in April, but at a slower pace, according to new figures from aviation industry group the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Demand – measured in cargo tonne-kilometres – fell 6.6%, year-on-year, in April. That fall was an improvement on the previous month’s year-on-year fall of 7.6%.
“The air cargo industry is adjusting itself to the implications of the recovery in passenger demand that brings with it an expansion of belly capacity. Preighter operations stopped in March and freighter services were scaled back by 2.3% in April. The demand environment is challenging to read. Tapering inflation is definitely a positive. But the degree and speed at which that could lead to looser monetary policies that might stimulate demand is unclear. The resilience that got the air cargo industry through the COVID-19 crisis is also critical in the aftermath,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
