U.S. INTERNATIONAL AIR FREIGHT TRAFFIC FELL BY 17.7% IN DECEMBER

U.S. INTERNATIONAL AIR FREIGHT TRAFFIC FELL BY 17.7% IN DECEMBER

   U.S. international air freight and express traffic decreased by 17.7 percent in December, according to preliminary statistics issued by the U.S. Air Transport Association.

   The December decrease for international traffic compares with a fall of 15.1 percent in the volume of domestic traffic, and closes one of the worst years in the history of the air cargo industry.

   International freight and express traffic carried by association airline members fell by 17.9 percent in December, to 801 million revenue ton-miles, from 976 million in December 2000. International mail traffic was down by 15.4 percent during the same period, to 55 million ton-miles. Total international cargo traffic decreased 17.7 percent, to 856 million ton-miles.

   For the year as whole, international freight and express traffic decreased by 8.7 percent, to 10.6 billion revenue ton-miles, from 11.6 billion in 2000. International mail traffic was down by 9.1 percent last year, to 484 million ton-miles. Total international cargo traffic, including freight, express and mail, decreased by 8.7 percent in 2001, to 11.1 billion ton-miles, from 12.2 billion in 2000.

   U.S. Air Transport Association members include Alaska, Aloha, America West, American, Continental, Delta, Emery, Federal Express, Hawaiian, Midwest Express, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, United, UPS and U.S. Airways.