Global air freight volume declined in 2019 for the first time since 2012 while passenger traffic increased 4.2 percent over 2018 levels, according to data released this week by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA said Thursday that global passenger traffic increased more slowly in 2019 than the previous year, below the trend of 5.5 percent annual growth.
“Airlines did well to maintain steady growth last year in the face of a number of challenges,” said IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac. “A softer economic backdrop, weak global trade activity, and political and geopolitical tensions took their toll on demand.”
Demand for air freight, however, fell 3.3 percent in 2019 from 2018 levels in the first decline since 2012 and the weakest performance since 2009, IATA said Wednesday, adding that capacity increase…
