Air cargo 2021: The good, the bad and the ugly
Goods continue to fill planes, but worsening passenger demand hinders freight growth 2,131 5 minutes read A large cargo plane offloads cargo at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves at DFW Airport)
The air cargo industry has officially recovered from the depths of the pandemic, with volumes in January 1.1% above the 2019 level. The bad news, according to the International Air Transport Association, is that freight capacity lost ground for the first time since April, dropping 5% on a monthly basis, because passenger airlines pulled back on flight activity in response to COVID outbreaks and widespread travel restrictions.
Global Air Cargo ends year on relative high
Despite no traditional peak season for global air cargo demand in Q4 2020, the year ended on a ‘relative high’ in December with the first positive year-on-year growth in weekly volumes in over 12 months, according to the latest industry statistics from analysts CLIVE Data Services and TAC Index.
Volumes in the period 21 December 2020-3 January 2021 – compared to a corresponding period of 23 December 2019-5 January 2020 – rose 8%, contributing to two new records for CLIVE Data Services’ ‘dynamic loadfactor’ analyses. Based on both the volume and weight perspectives of cargo flown and capacity available, the loadfactor reached a new high of 73% in mid-December, while week ending 3 January 2021 saw an unprecedented level for this time of year of 65%, 13% points above the corresponding week a year ago.
As Passenger Services Struggle Air Cargo Volumes Climb
Meanwhile Freight Rates Also Hold Up
WORLDWIDE – With the pandemic wreaking havoc in the airline industry only the levels of freight carried have maintained anything like normal, and even increased levels.
Analysis of the actual tonnages moved, and the available capacity and rates to transport them, come from a variety of industry sources, one of which, CLIVE Data Services, has reported the first positive year-on-year growth in weekly volumes in over 12 months, according to its latest industry statistics and that of the TAC Index.
Despite the unusual circumstances, meaning no traditional peak season for global air cargo demand, volumes in the period 21 December 2020-3 January 2021, compared to a corresponding period of 23 December 2019-5 January 2020, rose 8%, contributing to two new records for CLIVE Data Services’ ‘dynamic load factor’ analyses.