The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging governments around the world to take action and help relieve pressure on global supply chains.
It has released its September 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continues to be well above pre-COVID levels.
Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), was up 9.1% compared to September 2019 while capacity remains constrained at 8.9% below pre-COVID-19 levels.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw international air cargo volumes increase 4.5% in September 2021 compared to the same month in 2019.
This was a slowdown in demand compared to the previous month’s 5.1% expansion with slowing manufacturing activity in China playing a role.
International capacity is significantly constrained in the region, down 18.2% compared to September 2019. Looking forward, the decision by some countries in the region to lift travel restrictions should provide a boost for capacity, IATA says.
IATA director general Willie Walsh says there is a benefit from supply chain congestion as manufacturers turn to air transport for speed.
“But severe capacity constraints continue to limit the ability of air cargo to absorb extra demand. If not addressed, bottlenecks in the supply chain will slow the economic recovery from COVID-19.
“Governments must act to relieve pressure on global supply chains and improve their overall resilience,” Walsh says.
To relieve supply chain disruptions the IATA is calling on governments to:
- Ensure that air crew operations are not hindered by COVID-19 restrictions designed for air travellers
- Implement the commitments governments made at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)High Level Conference on COVID-19 to restore international connectivity to ramp-up vital cargo capacity with belly space
- Provide innovative policy incentives to address labour shortages where they exist
The IATA represents around 290 airlines comprising 82% of global air traffic.
