IATA: Passenger Traffic Continues to Rise, Cargo Remains in Doldrums
Passenger traffic rises, cargo continues losses.
ALPA continues its crusade against ExIm financing of widebodies for foreign buyers, arguing it unfairly subsidizes carriers that compete against U.S. airlines. (Photo: Boeing)
ALPA continues its crusade against ExIm financing of widebodies for foreign buyers, arguing it unfairly subsidizes carriers that compete against U.S. airlines. (Photo: Boeing)

Global airline traffic results for January showed a 5.7-percent rise in passenger demand but an 8-percent decline in air freight compared with the same month last year, according to statistics released last week by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The occurrence of Chinese New Year in January (rather than in February as in 2011) exaggerated the increase in passenger demand and the fall in air freight, said the association. Still, even while disregarding the effects of the date shift of the Chinese New Year, IATA statistics pointed to stronger passenger growth, while stabilized weakness in cargo markets continues.