International air cargo, including mail carried by foreign and domestic airlines operating in the Philippines, declined 2.6% to 328.52 million kilograms in 2015 from 337.46 million kg in 2014 mainly due to a drop in the volume of outgoing shipments.
Latest data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed that international outbound shipments handled by 36 domestic and foreign carriers fell 5.3% to 163.46 million kg from 172.57 million kg recorded in 2014.
Foreign inbound shipments, on the other hand, inched up 0.1% to 165.06 million kg from 164.90 million kg in 2014.
According to the International Air Transport Association, air cargo volumes grew 2.2% in 2015 compared to 2014, “a slower pace of growth than the 5.0% growth recorded in 2014” due to sluggish trade in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Top carriers
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines lifted 80.91 million kg in 2015, securing the top spot among airlines operating in the Philippines for the second year in a row. PAL is followed by Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific then Singapore Airlines, both maintaining their ranks in second and third spots with 46.75 million kg and 19.84 million, respectively.
Both advancing two places were South Korean flag-carrier Korean Air to fourth with 19.29 million kg and United Arab Emirates flag-carrier Etihad to fifth with 16.08 million kg.
Airlifting 15.74 million kg landed Dubai-based Emirates Air four places higher to sixth while Taiwan-based Eva Air improved one spot to seventh with 13.75 million kg.
Both falling four places were express operator United Parcel Service to eighth with 13.54 million kg and cargo airline Air Hong Kong Ltd. to ninth with 13.02 million kg.
Completing the top 10 was flag carrier Qatar Airways, which rose one spot to tenth with 11.385 million kg.
Rounding off the CAB list of top airfreight carriers were China Airlines (10.38 million kg); Thai Airways International (9.59 million kg); Asiana Airlines (9.27 million kg); Japan Airlines (8.51 million kg); All Nippon Airways (7.15 million kg); Federal Express Corp. (6.30 million kg); Delta Airlines (3.57 million kg); Gulf Air (3.47 million kg); Kuwait Airways (3.10 million kg); Malaysia Airlines (3.07 million kg); KLM (2.88 million kg); China Southern (2.33 million kg); Qantas Airways (1.88 million kg); Saudia (1.77 million kg); China Eastern Airline (1.07 million kg); Jetstar Asia (658,840 kg); Xiamen Airlines (649,245 kg); Air China (617,257 kg); PAL Express (583,278 kg); Royal Brunei (476,538 kg); Continental Micronesia (257,449 kg); Air Niugini (206,262 kg); El Al Israel Airlines (163,601 kg); Cargolux (127,379 kg); Air Micronesia (110,623 kg); and Ethiopian Airlines (20,313 kg). – Roumina Pablo
