Capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometers, increased by 0.6 percent, while cargo and mail revenue tonne kilometers (RTKs) increased by 3.2 percent.
The 2016 cumulative numbers through October saw tonnage carried rise by 2.2 percent against a 0.5 percent increase in capacity. Cumulative RTKs for the first ten months rose 0.4 percent.
Cathay Pacific general manager for cargo sales and marketing, Mark Sutch, said that despite a negative impact on the carrier’s forecasts during the month from typhoon disruptions, “overall cargo demand in October was fairly strong and tonnage continued to grow.” He added that, “overall exports from Europe, Asia and Mainland China were robust… rates are getting back to peak season levels. The new twice-weekly service to Portland, introduced in early November, further strengthened our U.S. network.”
Cathay isn’t the only carrier in the region reporting the sort of numbers that substantiate cautious optimism in the sector. China Southern registered 13 percent growth over October 2015, to 555 million RTKs. The Chinese carrier’s 10 months’ performance was also solid, at 9.3 percent year-on-year (y-o-y).
