Airfreight lags behind passenger volume

The weakness of global trade in recent years is also reflected in the
development of international airfreight. Global airfreight volume (in tonne-
kilometres) grew by just 1.5% a year on average between 2010 and 2015. Seen
over a longer horizon, this growth appears very slow. By comparison, airfreight
volume expanded by more than 5% a year between 1993 and 2010. The
aforementioned slow growth in airfreight between 2010 and 2015 does not
reflect a fundamental problem in the aviation industry, as passenger traffic
increased by more than 6% a year over the same period.
In 2015, global airfreight volume grew by just over 2%. However, strong growth
in the Middle East prevented a significantly weaker result. Volume in the region
increased by more than 11%, according to the International Air Transport
Association (IATA).

Europe and North America, on the other hand, recorded
stagnant figures in 2015. In the two years prior to 2015, the Middle East also
accounted for the strongest growth by far (volume growth in 2014: 11%;
2013: 13%). The region has also seen above-average growth so far in 2016, the
result of years of massive expansion efforts by airlines and airports in the
region.