Top 40 airport rankings: Which ones rose? Which fell?

Outlook remains hazy
Not all outlooks are as rosy. Airfreight growth has been so sluggish over the last few years, most airports are skeptical that the industry will see much more than the expected worldwide 2.5 to 3 percent growth rate for air cargo next year. But there are some telltale indications that business may begin picking up on some routes.

In the first eight months of this year, for example, Changi’s air cargo volume grew 5.2 percent, year-over-year, to 1.27 million tonnes, said Changi’s Hui Hoon. The airport has seen pharmaceutical volume during that same period rise by 22 percent, y-o-y, and other perishables grow by 13 percent, y-o-y, “and we expect these niche segments to continue,” she added. The airport is moving forward on its “Changi East” development, which will extend its third runway to accommodate more aircraft and make related infrastructure improvements by the late-2020s, she said.

In Tokyo, as well, signs look positive as the year comes to an end. “Cargo volume in 2016 has increased for six consecutive months, owing to active transit cargo, while OD cargo has grown at a sluggish pace,” said Narita’s Yokozuka. “In the meantime, we target 2.1 million tons as our annual cargo volume in 2018.”

With an eye toward the coming new year, the largest operator at the busiest hub had this to say: “It would be naïve to suggest the air cargo industry is set to return to historic rates of growth, so our predictions are modest,” said Hactl’s Whitehead. “Our main focus is on helping our airline customers to attract new and higher-yielding revenue streams, such as pharma and e-commerce. We have invested heavily in both areas, and the results are now showing.”

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