The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) released data for global air loading grocery showing that demand , measured in freight tonne kilometers ( FTKs ) , decreased 4.7 % in February 2019 , compared to the same period in 2018 . This was the fourth consecutive calendar month of negative year - on - twelvemonth growth and the bad carrying out in the last three year . loading capacity , value in available freight t klick ( AFTKs ) , move up by 2.7 % year - on - year in February 2019 . This was the 12th calendar month in a row that capacity ontogenesis outstripped demand growth .
Demand for air cargo continues to face significant headwinds
Regional PerformanceAll region reported a condensation in year - on - year need emergence in February 2019 except for Latin America .

Asia - Pacific air hose see need for air freight contract bridge by 11.6 % in February 2019 , compared to the same full stop in 2018 . infirm manufacturing conditions for exporter in the region , ongoing trade tensions and a slowing of the Chinese economic system impacted the market . Capacity minify by 3.7 % .
North American airlines pick up demand contract by 0.7 % in February 2019 , compare to the same period a twelvemonth originally . This was the first month of electronegative year - on - yr maturation recorded since mid-2016 , think over the piercing fall in trade with China . North American carriers have benefited from the potency of the US thriftiness and consumer disbursement over the retiring year . electrical capacity increased by 7.1 % .
European airline business go through a muscle contraction in freight demand of 1.0 % in February 2019 compared to a class ago . The decline is consistent with weaker manufacturing conditions for exporters in Germany , one of Europe ’s major economies . Trade tensions and uncertainty over Brexit also contributed to a weakening in demand . Capacity increase by 4.0 % year - on - year .
Middle Eastern airlines ’ freight rate volumes press 1.6 % in February 2019 compared to the twelvemonth - ago period . electrical capacity increased by 3.1 % . A clear downward vogue in seasonally - adjusted outside air cargo requirement is now evident with weakening trade to / from North America contributing to the decrease .
Latin American airline posted the fastest growth of any region in February 2019 versus last year with demand up 2.8 % . Despite the economic uncertainty in the region , a bit of central markets are perform strongly . Seasonally - adjust outside freight need achieved growth for the first time in six months . Capacity increase by 14.1 % .
African carriers saw freight demand decrease by 8.5 % in February 2019 , compare to the same calendar month in 2018 . Seasonally - adjusted international freight volumes are lower than their peak in mid-2017 ; despite this , they are still 25 % higher than their most late gutter in late-2015 . Capacity grew 6.8 % yr - on - year .
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