WORLD AIR CARGO TRAFFIC ROSE 1.1 PERCENT IN 1998

WORLD AIR CARGO TRAFFIC ROSE 1.1 PERCENT IN 1998

   World air cargo traffic rose by 1.1 percent last year, as Asia-Pacific
cargo volumes contracted, according to statistics compiled by Airports
Council International, based in Geneva.
   Total cargo moving through the world’s airports totaled 58.3 million
metric tons in 1998.
   The 1.1 percent rate of growth is down from 8 percent in 1997.
   Asia-Pacific volumes fell by 3.8 percent, to 13.6 million tons in 1998.
North American traffic was up by 3 percent, to 28.9 million tons. European
airports reported a 2.2 percent increase, to 11.3 million tons.