Cargo handling up 9.2pc worldwide
Worldwide air cargo traffic grew 9.2 per cent in August this year compared with the same month the previous year, according to the latest figures from an industry group.
Airports Council International, which represents more than 475 airports and airport authorities, said the biggest growth was at African destinations where air freight grew 14.2 per cent to 18,962 tonnes.
In the Middle East, there was a 13.6 per cent rise in freight to 160,293 tonnes year-on-year. Airports in the Asia Pacific region also saw double-digit growth of 12.8 per cent to 1.05 million tonnes.
Air cargo growth fell in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2.3 per cent to 109,268 tonnes.
At Kai Tak, there was a 16 per cent increase in air cargo handling to 155,300 tonnes to retain Hong Kong's title as the world's third busiest air freight centre.
It was beaten by Memphis, Tennessee which handled 223,229 tonnes in August, a 35 per cent increase over August 1996, and Los Angeles which moved 166,724 tonnes of freight, a 15.6 per cent rise.
