Airports across the globe saw airfreight volumes surge by 10.4 per cent in February compared to the same month last year, the Airports Council International (ACI) reports.
The airport association’s monthly report for February says that as retailers are seeking alternate transport due to the US West coast sea port congestion, airfreight received a, “significant boost,” to volumes during the month.
The trade body explains that North American airports saw volume grow 26.9 per cent, with imports from Asia Pacific airports being a major factor. The Asia Pacific airports’ volume rose 17.3 per cent because of the demand from the US.
Of those US airports that grew, ACI points to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, experiencing growth of 47.6 per cent, 47.8 per cent and 21.9 per cent, respectively.
In February, global international freight was up 13.2 per cent and domestic freight was up 4.1 per cent, bringing the total growth compared to February 2014 to 10.4 per cent. Regions seeing growth were Africa with 11.5 per cent, Asia Pacific 14.3 per cent, Europe up 2.8 per cent, the Middle East grew 12.3 per cent and North America rose by 12.9 per cent. But, Latin America was the only region to go down in the month, by 2.2 per cent.
For the first two months of 2015, global international freight is up 8.6 per cent and domestic freight rose 2.8 per cent. Their combined volume is up by 6.7 per cent. All regions grew. In Africa it is up by 9.6 per cent, in Asia Pacific 8.5 per cent, Europe is up 1.1 per cent, Latin America 0.5 per cent, the Middle East saw 10.9 per cent, and North America grew 8.2 per cent. On a 12-month rolling basis, international freight volume is up 6.1 per cent at airports across the globe and domestic freight is up 3.1 per cent. Total airport freight is up by 5.2 per cent.
ACI World economics director, Rafael Echevarne, explains: “The resulting substitution effect of the seaport crisis along the Pacific coast also gave airfreight a strong boost.
“Regardless of these short term distortions, we have seen continued strong growth month after month in 2014 and into 2015 on a consistent basis.”
