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Bucking an international slowdown in airfreight volumes, the Middle East has remained a solid performer for the aviation industry in recent months and provided a welcome solace in the wake of a global recession.
According to statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a 6.3% increase was registered in the region’s 2008 freight tonne kilometres (FTK) – the industry’s standard measurement for freight traffic. In comparison, established markets such as Asia Pacific, Europe and North America registered a staggered decline of 6.6%, 2.8% and 1.9% respectively.
Several regional and global operators have contributed to this resilient growth in the Middle East, including market-leader Emirates SkyCargo, which transported 1.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2008, marking an increase of 9.8% compared to the previous year. Its revenue also climbed by 14.8% to US$2.1 billion, a contribution of approximately 19% to the total revenue of Emirates airline.
Dedicated cargo airlines also played an influential role in the market’s growth, with Abu Dhabi-based Maximus Air Cargo registering a recent 134% increase in revenue, making a staggering $110.8 million in 2008.
However, despite these impressive results, the global sector will continue to experience a series of challenges in the coming years, according to IATA, and the Middle East will need to join hands with its counterparts around the world to kickstart a recovery from the downturn. “We must look for opportunities that will build our future with a more efficient industry, focused on meeting customer needs,” comments Giovanni Bisignani, CEO and director general of IATA. “Customers want a good price and a great product, delivered with speed and reliability via the supply chain. And in crisis, customers will only get more demanding. To meet their expectations and build a solid future for the industry, change is required.”
Fortunately, embracing change has always been a favourite pastime of the Middle East and a number of ambitious developments are taking place to revolutionise the local airfreight sector. At the forefront of these plans is the Dubai World Central project, which is currently being constructed in the United Arab Emirates and includes the mammoth Al Maktoum International Airport – reported to be the biggest aviation hub in the world, with a capacity for 12 million tonnes of cargo and 160 million passengers a year. The construction of 16 cargo terminals has already been completed and the airport is scheduled to commence its first phase of operations in June 2010.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait have also invested billions of dollars for the development of their airport infrastructure, with the bulk of projects coming on line within the next five years. “The Middle East region is one of the most dynamic aviation markets in the entire world,” reasons Bisignani. “Gulf countries also have a significant advantage with their modern, efficient fleet and world-class airport infrastructure, which should continue to serve them well in the coming years,” he concludes.
CLICK HERE for profiles and interviews with the Middle East's leading airfreight operators, including Emirates SkyCargo, Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo, Maximus Air Cargo, Oman Air Cargo, Midex Airlines, Qatar Airways Cargo, Royal Jordanian Cargo and Etihad Crystal Cargo.
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