WORLD AIR CARGO TRAFFIC ROSE BY 6.2% IN 1999

WORLD AIR CARGO TRAFFIC ROSE BY 6.2% IN 1999

   World air cargo traffic rose by 6.2 percent last year, according to preliminary statistics compiled by Airports Council International, based in Geneva.

   Total cargo moving through the world’s airports totaled 60.8 million metric tons in 1999.

   The 6.2 percent increase in traffic marks a return to high growth rates for the air cargo industry, after the slowdown witnessed in 1998. In 1998, world air traffic increased by 1.1 percent. In 1997, the rate of growth was 8 percent.

   In 1999, Asia-Pacific cargo volumes recovered strongly, increasing by 12.9 percent, to 15.4 million tons.

   North American traffic was up by 4 percent, to 28.7 million tons. European airports reported a 4.9 percent increase, to 11.9 million tons. The Mideast region saw volumes rise by 3.9 percent, to 2.4 million tons. Traffic volume for Latin America and the Caribbean was up by 0.3 percent, to 1.6 million tons. African airports handled about 849,000 tons of air cargo last year, an increase of 0.9 percent.

   Memphis continued to be the world’s largest air cargo airport last year, with an annual traffic volume of 2.4 million tons. Hong Kong climbed from fourth to second in the world league of major airports, overtaking Los Angeles. Hong Kong handled 1.99 million tons of cargo in 1999, as compared to 1.95 million tons for the airport of Los Angeles.