Europe, Asia-Pacific airports see cargo throughput dip

The summer months brought a resurgence of passenger travel but not a rebound in cargo traffic. Globally, airport throughput in August dropped 6.6% year over year at selected airports, according to an Air Cargo World analysis of airport traffic. Airports in Europe and Asia-Pacific saw the greatest YoY declines at 11% and 14.4%, respectively. Asia Pacific Selected airports in the Asia-Pacific region saw declines in volumes YoY and month over month. The region averaged a 14.4% drop in overall cargo tonnage in August compared with 2021, with Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) experiencing the sharpest change, falling 24% YoY. The airports averaged a 5% decline in volumes compared with July. PVG saw only 99,948 tonnes move through the airport in August, a 7% decrease from July and a 4% decrease from June . Similarly, Hong Kong Airport (HKG) saw a 21% YoY decrease in volumes and 13% less than in 2019. Airport volumes felt the impact of “global economic uncertainties, continuing geopolitical tensions and disruptions to the global supply chain,” according to a Sept. 17 release from HKG. Imports and exports dropped 20% and 25% YoY, respectively, with traffic falling most dramatically between North America and Europe, according to the release. South Korea’s Incheon (ICN) saw 229,191 tonnes of cargo, 15.9% less than in 2021, but 1% growth compared with 2019, according to recent airport statistics. Imports fell 16.4% YoY and exports fell 15.3% YoY. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) saw a 7.7% YoY decrease in cargo throughput, with only 153,000 tonnes, compared with 165,000 tonnes in August 2021. Japan’s Kansai International Airport (KIX) had the smallest change in cargo volumes, with a YoY decline of 4% and a MoM decline of 5%. [caption id="attachment_57132271" align="alignright" width="505"] Fotografie voor Schiphol. Zomer fotografie; PHOTO AND COPYRIGHT ROGER CREMERS[/caption] Europe European airports have faced labor challenges this summer, resulting in a reduction of overall operations and, consequently, cargo volumes. Some airports in the region averaged a 5% MoM decline. Frankfurt (FRA) airport saw the greatest YoY drop at 15.2%, moving only 151,711 tonnes, 11% less cargo when compared with August 2019 volumes. Limited handling capabilities and economic development resulted in less cargo on freighter aircraft at FRA, 3.4% below 2019 levels and 25% below 2021 levels, according to a Fraport release. However, belly cargo was up 13.8% YoY. Fraport reported a 95.2% YoY decline of cargo movement to Eastern Europe as the war in Ukraine “practically stopped cargo,” according to the release. Brussels (BRU) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) saw declines of 11% and 10.7% YoY, respectively. BRU saw 49,709 tonnes of cargo in August, 5% less than July, and AMS saw 116,876 tonnes, a 3% MoM drop. BRU’s August throughput was 19% higher than its 2019 levels , but AMS’ was 18% lower than in 2019, likely a result of the passenger capacity cap. Of the European hubs, London Heathrow (LHR) had the lowest YoY decline at 7.2%, moving 103,461 tonnes of airfreight. Compared with August 2019, LHR saw the largest drop in volumes with 18% less throughput in August 2022. The airport implemented a capacity cap that will apply until Oct. 29, 2022 that reduces passenger flights and available belly capacity. North America Of the airports considered by Air Cargo World for this analysis, those in North America had the best average YoY change, with 1.7% growth that was inflated primarily by the continued dramatic growth at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport (CVG). In August, CVG saw 173,000 tonnes of throughput, 28% more than August 2021, and 66% more than August 2019. Memphis Airport (MEM) had the largest YoY decline at 7%, moving 340,317 tonnes of cargo in August, but still 5% more than in July. MEM serves as a hub for FedEx, which recently announced a record-low quarter in its Express division . Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL), also a FedEx hub, saw a 9.2% YoY decline at 51,522 tonnes of throughput. FedEx volumes at ATL for August fell 15% YoY and 3% compared with 2019, making up only 18.5% of cargo volumes at ATL; cargo volumes at the hub were 19.71% in 2021 and 19.86% in 2019. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) felt the effects of trans-Pacific capacity reduction, with a drop in overall throughput to 214,638 tonnes, 9.2% less than in 2021. Imports declined 10% YoY and exports declined 8% YoY. Mexico City (MEX) and Ontario (ONT) saw YoY growth in August cargo throughput at 3.2% and 4.5%, respectively. The two airports also had higher cargo levels compared with the same month in 2019, with ONT growing 2.6% and MEX growing 2.7%.

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