April volumes remain depressed at cargo airports

April cargo volumes continued to see significant drops due to airspace restrictions caused by the war in Ukraine and strict COVID-19-related restrictions in China, averaging a 11.9% decrease in tonnage at some airports compared with 2021 volumes. Airfreight volumes continue to be negatively impacted by sanctions placed against Russian carriers alongside airspace restrictions, leading airlines to take alternative flight paths or cancel routes altogether . Although COVID-19-related lockdowns began to loosen in Shanghai during the month of April, both Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) continued to face ongoing flight cancellations, limited manpower and trucking restrictions . Instead, volumes typically bound for the two airports were rerouted to other local airports, including Wuhan (WUH) and Zhengzhou (CGO). [caption id="attachment_57065440" align="alignright" width="517"] Terminal 2 at FRA. Photo/FRA[/caption] Asia-Pacific PVG saw the most significant decrease due to the city’s ongoing lockdowns which have been in place since March . Cargo volumes at PVG plummeted in April, reporting only 49,849 tonnes, a 60% drop from March and 69% decrease compared to the same period in 2021, according to the latest statistics from PVG-based terminal operator Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co. Ltd. (PACTL). Outbound cargo faced the highest drop of 74% YoY, only exporting 25,264 tonnes of cargo in the past month. Meanwhile in Malaysia Changi Airport (SIN) reported 141,000 tonnes of cargo moved through its airport, an 8.9% decrease YoY, according to the latest traffic report. Incheon International Airport (ICN) also saw a dip in volumes, handling 261,092 tonnes of cargo in April, a 7% decrease both since March and YoY. Kansai International Airport (KIX) similarly reported an 8% drop in cargo tonnes handled at only 60,614 tonnes for April. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) saw the least extreme change, with 375,000 tonnes handled in April, a 7% growth from March and a smaller 2.8% decrease YoY. The change was attributed to decreased capacity, with routes to Europe experiencing the most significant changes during the month, HKG reported. HKG had the highest cargo tonnage among the world’s airports in 2021, increasing 12.5% YoY, according to preliminary data from Airports Council International (ACI). North America Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) saw the most growth in the region, with volumes increasing 10% YoY and 27% MoM to 143,238 tonnes. Meanwhile, Louisville International Airport (SDF) moved 256,445 tonnes of cargo during April, a 1% decrease in volume YoY and 6% decrease MoM, according to the airport’s traffic data. Approximately 69% of the cargo handled was domestic freight and parcels, or 176,201 tonnes. On the West Coast, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) handled 212,288 tonnes of cargo, a 6.83% decrease YoY, according to data from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Traffic Comparison (TCOM). Ontario International Airport (ONT), also in Southern California, handled 14% less cargo compared with March, and 12% less YoY, at 56,509 tonnes for the month. Europe Airports in Europe generally saw decreases in tonnage in April. Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) saw volumes decrease 16% YoY in April to 169,300 tonnes of cargo due to airspace restrictions and strict COVID-19-related lockdowns in China, according to the latest traffic report. As a result, cargo traffic to and from Asia-Pacific decreased 19.2% while cargo handled in east Europe was down 83.3%. Latin America and North America saw slight declines of 3.1% and 7.8%, respectively. Africa was the only region that saw growth, with FRA reporting a 16.3% increase. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) saw a similar decline in handled tonnage, reporting a 17.2% YoY decrease in April of 116,895 tonnes of cargo, according to the latest airport statistics. Brussels Airport (BRU) handled 51,412 tonnes of cargo in April, down 14.1% YoY. Meanwhile in the U.K., London Heathrow Airport (LHR) reported a decrease in cargo volumes following months of growth in February and March . In April, LHR handled around 112,828 tonnes of cargo, down 3% compared with the same month in 2021. The Air Cargo Tech Summit, the new airfreight logistics event presented by Air Cargo World , will take place LIVE in Miami from June 6-7. Learn more and register here.

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