GLOBAL AIRFREIGHT ROSE 12.7% IN OCTOBER

GLOBAL AIRFREIGHT ROSE 12.7% IN OCTOBER

   Global airfreight traffic increased by 12.7 percent last October, Geneva-based Airports Council International said on Monday in its monthly compilation of statistics from over 750 airports.

   Total air cargo volume handled by airports worldwide reached 6.08 million metric tons in October, representing an increase of about 700,000 tons over the volume handled in October 2001.

   The increase in air cargo traffic reflects partly the closure of U.S. West Coast ports last October, which forced shippers to divert some maritime cargo to airfreight.

   Asia-Pacific airports saw a 20.5 percent surge in airfreight traffic, to 1.79 million tons in October. North American airports handled 2.52 million tons, an increase of 11.6 percent. Air cargo volume in Europe was up 5.5 percent, to 1.2 million tons.

   In other regions, the Middle East had a 14.7 percent volume gain, to some 248,000 tons, while Latin America and the Caribbean saw their combined traffic increase by 6.7 percent, to about 233,000 tons. Africa increased its airport cargo traffic by 13.3 percent, to about 88,000 tons.

   Airports Council International reported a 100.4 percent jump in cargo traffic at the airport of Shanghai for October, to 66,200 tons. Volume in Beijing was up 18.5 percent the same month, amounting to 59,900 tons. Hong Kong handled 253,200 tons, 26.2 percent more than in October of 2001.