IATA: global air freight down – 3.1% in November compared to a year earlier

IATA data for November show global air freight tonnage, domestic and international, was down -3.1% in November, compared to a year earlier. Tonnage was down 4% compared to January 2011 though up 1.1% compared to October.  November 2011 international freight was down -3.8% while domestic freight was up +25, giving the overall -3.1%. European carriers reported a 4.6% fall in demand reflecting continued uncertainty associated with the Euro-zone crisis. Shares of global air freight by region are Asia-Pacific 40.5%, Europe 22.0%, North America 23.6%, Middle East 9.8%, Latin America 3.0%, Africa 1.1%.


IATA figures for the annual tonnage of air freight, year by year :

Year  (millions of tonnes)  Annual % growth

2003       37.5                         +3.8%

2004       41.1                         +7.9%

2005       42.1                         +0.4%

2006       44.8                         +4.8%

2007       47.0                         +4.8%

2008       45.4                         – 1.0%

2009       40.8                         – 9.8%

2010       45.8                         + 18.7%

2011  45.5 (estimated)           – 0.5%

2012  45.4 or 45.3 (forecast)   0%  to – 4.7%

From IATA Factsheet

 

Proportion of global air freight by continent :

Nov 2008
International freight traffic market shares by region in terms of FTK are:

Asia Pacific 44.6%, Europe 27.4%North America 17.0%, Middle East 7.8%, Latin America 2.1%, Africa 1.1%

Nov 2009

International freight traffic market shares by region in terms of FTK are:

Asia-Pacific 44.6%, Europe 25.5%, North America 16.6%, Middle East 10.2%, Latin America 2.2%, Africa 1.0%


Nov 2010
International freight traffic market shares by region in terms of FTK are:

Asia-Pacific 44.3%, Europe 25.2%North America 15.2%, Middle East 10.8%, Latin America 3.1%, Africa 1.3%.

Nov 2011
Total freight traffic market shares by region of carriers in terms of FTK are:

Asia-Pacific 40.5%Europe 22.0%North America 23.6%, Middle East 9.8%, Latin America 3.0%, Africa 1.1%.

From IATA press releases


 Air Transport Markets Weaken in November

30.12.2011 (IATA press release)

just the sections related to air freight below …

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global traffic results for November showing …  air cargo markets remained weak compared to levels attained earlier in the year.

Freight markets were 3.1% below November 2010 levels despite a 1.1% increase on October 2011 performance.

“Weak global economic performance is being reflected in air transport markets. Freight markets have contracted some 4% compared to January. ……………..Continuing economic uncertainty will likely mean market shortcomings deepening as we enter 2012,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

[FTK ,means freight tonne kilometres].

Nov 2011 vs. Nov 2010FTK GrowthAFTK Growth
International                    -3.8%1.9%
Domestic2.0%1.9%
Total Market-3.1%1.9%

 

YTD 2011 vs. YTD 2010FTK GrowthAFTK Growth
International                    -0.5%5.3%
Domestic-2.2%-0.1%
Total Market-0.7%4.1%


Air Freight (Domestic and International)

Air freight markets continued their decline in line with weak economic performance and falling business confidence. International markets declined by 3.8%. This was offset by 2.0% growth in domestic markets. Nonetheless, system wide demand shrank by 3.1% in comparison with November 2010.

  • International freight load factors have declined 6 percentage points from their peak in mid-2010. While freighter capacity has been adjusted to meet demand, belly cargo capacity follows the trend in passenger demand.
  • Asia-Pacific carriers have seen the weakest demand performance driven by falling demand for Asian manufactured goods from US and European consumers. The region’s carriers saw the market decline by 6.4%.
  • European carriers reported a 4.6% fall in demand reflecting continued uncertainty associated with the Euro-zone crisis.
  • North American carriers’ operations were largely unchanged from the previous year with only 0.2% growth.
  • The Middle East and Latin American carriers delivered the strongest cargo performance with 4.6% and 4.0% growth respectively.
  • African carriers reported a 1.7% year-on-year decline.


IATA is estimating the airline industry will make a collective profit of $6.9 billion in 2011 for a net margin of 1.2%. IATA forecasts that this will fall to $3.5 billion in 2012 (0.6% net margin). But the association has warned that the downside risk of the Euro-zone crisis failing to be resolved could lead to losses in excess of $8 billion.

View November traffic results  in detail

Nov 2011 vs. Nov 2010FTK GrowthAFTK Growth
Africa-1.7%1.0%
Asia/Pacific-7.2%-2.1%
Europe-4.6%1.6%
Latin America3.3%4.0%
Middle East4.7%13.4%
North America-0.8%2.1%
Industry-3.8%1.9%

 

YTD 2011 vs. YTD 2010FTK GrowthAFTK Growth
Africa-1.2%3.3%
Asia/Pacific-4.8%0.5%
Europe1.4%6.5%
Latin America5.9%5.2%
Middle East7.9%13.8%
North America2.2%7.8%
Industry-0.5%5.3%

 

These figures display the international traffic. For domestic and total traffic, please check the full market analysis (pdf)

Notes for editors:

  • IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 240 airlines comprising 84% of global air traffic.
    • FTK: Freight Tonne Kilometers measures actual freight traffic
    • AFTK: Available Freight Tonne Kilometers measures available total freight capacity
    • FLF: Freight Load Factor is % of AFTKs used
  • IATA statistics cover international and domestic scheduled air traffic for IATA member and non-member airlines.
  • All figures are provisional and represent total reporting at time of publication plus estimates for missing data.   Historic figures may be revised.
  • Total freight traffic market shares by region of carriers in terms of FTK are: Asia-Pacific 40.5%, Europe 22.0%, North America 23.6%, Middle East 9.8%, Latin America 3.0%, Africa 1.1%.

30 December 2011   – IATA press release
Monthly traffic results November

 


Monthly traffic results – monthly press releases from IATA

 

By comparison,  a year earlier:

Nov 2010 vs. Nov 2009FTK GrowthAFTK Growth
Africa9.4%10.6%
Asia/Pacific4.1%5.6%
Europe6.6%7.8%
Latin America10.3%-2.6%
Middle East12.4%17.7%
North America1.5%6.2%
Industry5.4%7.5%

http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/traffic_results/Pages/2010-12-30-01.aspx

 

and

Nov 09 vs. Nov 08FTK GrowthAFTK Growth
Africa8.1%-2.3%
Asia/Pacific14.5%-1.4%
Europe-5.6%-10.9%
Latin America17.5%15.0%
Middle East21.4%11.3%
North America13.6%-7.6%
Industry9.5%-3.5%

http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/traffic_results/Pages/2009-12-30-01.aspx

and

Nov 2008 vs. Nov 2007FTK GrowthATK Growth
Africa2.2%0.4%
Asia/Pacific-16.9%-8.6%
Europe-11.0%-2.2%
Latin America-15.7%0.9%
Middle East-1.6%5.2%
North America-14.4%-2.4%
Industry-13.5%-3.7%

http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/traffic_results/Pages/2008-12-30-01.aspx

and

Nov 2007 vs. Nov 2006FTK GrowthATK Growth
Africa-18.3%5.7%
AsIa/Pacific3.6%8.2%
Europe2.9%5.3%
Latin America8.6%11.5%
Middle East8.1%10.6%
North America3.3%2.6%
Industry3.5%6.4%