China lockdowns, Ukraine war dampen March throughput at cargo airports

[caption id="attachment_99174" align="alignright" width="515"] Terminal 1 at Frankfurt International Airport (Photo/FRA)[/caption] March airfreight volumes were dampened by ongoing lockdowns in China due to omicron outbreaks, as well as displaced capacity caused by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, averaging a 4.4% decrease in tonnage compared with 2021 volumes. Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February , carriers have been rerouting flight paths and reducing frequencies to avoid Russian airspace, significantly impacting transported volumes and airfreight rates . Trade lanes connected to the Asia-Pacific region were further strained as omicron outbreaks in Shenzhen and Shanghai led government forces to implement restrictions in March. While the citywide lockdown in Shanghai was initially intended to end April 5, restrictions were extended indefinitely, significantly disrupting cargo activity and volumes in March. Asia-Pacific Volumes at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) were down 11.4% to 352,000 tonnes compared with the same month in 2021, according to the latest statistics posted by the airport. Compared with February, throughput was down 29.4% due to flight reductions caused by omicron outbreaks. Both exports and imports experienced double-digit, YoY declines compared with March 2021, with shipments to and from North America and Europe experiencing the largest declines. After falling to No. 2 in Air Cargo World ’s most recent Top 50 Cargo Airports ranking based on 2020 throughput, HKG reclaimed its spot at No. 1 based on 2021 throughput , according to preliminary results from Airports Council International (ACI). HKG handled more than 5 million tonnes of cargo in 2021, up 12.5% compared with 2020. Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) also saw a significant decrease in throughput, handling roughly 126,118 tonnes of cargo, down 26.8% compared with the same month in 2021, according to the latest statistics from PVG-based terminal operator Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co. Ltd. (PACTL). The city currently remains under lockdown indefinitely despite some loosening restrictions. Operations at PVG are limited as flights are still facing cancellations, employees are still working from home and trucking services remain strained. Incheon International Airport (ICN) handled 281,551 tonnes of cargo in March, down 2.2% compared with 287,989 tonnes posted in March 2021, according to airport statistics. Month over month, ICN reported an 18.6% increase in tonnage. ICN rose to No. 5 from No. 6, according to preliminary ACI results. Europe Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) saw volumes decrease 13.1% year over year to 181,214 tonnes of cargo in March, FRA reported in its latest traffic data. This was primarily attributed to ongoing lockdowns in China, reduced capacity following airspace closures due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict and lack of available volume from Russian airlines. FRA ranked No. 14 in ACW ’s report. Cargo transport to East Europe fell by 75.5% in March, as well as tonnage to North America which saw a 7.3% decrease, FRA reported. Cargo connected to the Middle East also saw a fall of 16.4% in March, as well as Asia-Pacific, which posted a 13.3% decline, compared with 2021 levels. Shipments connected to Africa, however, posted a 18.2% increase compared with 2021 levels, while Latin American shipments saw a slight uptick of 1%. Meanwhile, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), which ranked No. 16 in ACW’s list, reported a 16.3% year-over-year increase in tonnage to 128,198 tonnes of cargo in March, up 8.4% from February. Volumes also continued to grow at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the U.K. In March, LHR handled 132,699 tonnes of cargo, up 3.6% YoY. North America As with February traffic reports , cargo airports and gateways in North America continued to show mixed results in March. UPS hub Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) handled 271,626 tonnes of cargo in March, up 4.6% compared with 2021 levels, according to the latest traffic statistics. SDF fell by one spot to No. 6 in ACI’s 2021 ranking. Meanwhile, on the U.S. West Coast, March traffic at Ontario International Airport (ONT) continued to show decreases in throughput, reporting 66,313 tonnes of handled cargo in March, down 6.5% compared with the same period 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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