Page 61 - AEROSTAT 2023
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According to IATA’s market analysis report, in 2023, a challenging year for air cargo, global air cargo traic
(measured in cargo tonne-kilometres) fell only slightly below 2022 levels (-1.9%), boosted by a strong fourth-
quarter performance. Compared to 2019, 2023 volumes fell short by 3.6%. On the positive side, all trade lanes
exhibited an upward trend, with stabilisation in global cross-border trade towards the end of the year and
disruptions in the Red Sea traic being two contributing factors. Mainly attributable to the growth of Asian
Paciic carriers, global capacity increased by 11.3% compared to 2022, and by 2.5% compared to 2019, with
passenger bellies playing a major role. Finally, cargo yields, though decreased by 32% from the 2022 highs,
remained above pre-pandemic levels by a considerable 42%.
At AIA, the total lown cargo uplift reached 94,000 tonnes, declining by 7.4% compared to the previous year,
returning to 2019 levels (-0.7%). Notably, freight experienced a 7.5% decrease compared to 2022 but remained
above 2019 volumes (+4.1%), compensating for the further decrease in mail traic (-4.9% vs 2022 and -51.2%
vs 2019). Since the pandemic, global postal volumes have been continuously declining, largely due to the
emergence of large digital platforms that transport cross-border e-commerce by freight.
International volumes fell below 2022 levels by 7.6%, with outbound freight registering a notable 12.8%
decrease, remaining, however, above 2019 traic by almost 12%. Inbound volumes matched both 2022 and
2019 volumes. Cargo transported on freighters contracted further from the pandemic peak (-13.4% versus
2022) but climbed above the 2019 uplift by 2%, returning to the 2019 market share of almost 39%.
Domestic volumes decreased by 5.5% compared to 2022, still lagging 26.2% behind 2019 traic. Freight
declined by 6.2%, while mail posted a slight increase of 4.2%. Volumes carried on freighters were below 2022
levels by 3.8% but well above 2019 traic (+5.1%), attaining a market share of 36.8%, marginally above 2022
but notably higher than 2019 (25.8%).
Further market highlights include:
• Transit/transfer freight increased in 2023, reaching 9.2% of transported volumes compared to 6.1%
registered in 2022. These volumes are included in the declared numbers as both inbound and outbound
traic.
• International trucked volumes decreased by 13.3% compared to the previous year. Traic transported
to AIA by road includes the economy service of the integrators (90% of said traic), transit freight from
neighbouring countries for onward forwarding by airfreight, various shipments arriving at European
gateways with inal destinations in Greece and outbound freight transported to other European airports
due to the lack of air capacity ex Athens. Almost 32% of the trucked freight is registered as transit.
• Ten airlines carried almost 80% of the international cargo traic. These included: EAT/DHL, Emirates,
Aegean Airlines, Qatar Airways, Star Air (UPS), FedEx, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Air
Canada.
• Five airlines shared the domestic traic volumes: Aegean Airlines, EAT/DHL, Sky Express, Swiftair Hellas,
and Olympic Air.
• The integrators’ (DHL, FedΕx, UPS) market share declined to 30.8% (vs. 34% in 2022 and 2019), suggesting
that compared to 2022 volumes, they experienced a greater decrease than the passenger aircraft
operators.
Looking at the prospects for 2024, according to IATA analysis, air cargo is expected to grow by 4.5% in 2024
and reach 61 million tonnes. Contributing factors to this development include anticipated growth in global
trade (by 3.5%) and e-commerce traic, and resilience in the transportation of high-value special cargo. On the
other hand, challenges may be faced due to currency luctuations and disruptions in the China supply chain.
Finally, digitalisation and sustainability are two major areas of concern for air cargo in the years to come.
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(measured in cargo tonne-kilometres) fell only slightly below 2022 levels (-1.9%), boosted by a strong fourth-
quarter performance. Compared to 2019, 2023 volumes fell short by 3.6%. On the positive side, all trade lanes
exhibited an upward trend, with stabilisation in global cross-border trade towards the end of the year and
disruptions in the Red Sea traic being two contributing factors. Mainly attributable to the growth of Asian
Paciic carriers, global capacity increased by 11.3% compared to 2022, and by 2.5% compared to 2019, with
passenger bellies playing a major role. Finally, cargo yields, though decreased by 32% from the 2022 highs,
remained above pre-pandemic levels by a considerable 42%.
At AIA, the total lown cargo uplift reached 94,000 tonnes, declining by 7.4% compared to the previous year,
returning to 2019 levels (-0.7%). Notably, freight experienced a 7.5% decrease compared to 2022 but remained
above 2019 volumes (+4.1%), compensating for the further decrease in mail traic (-4.9% vs 2022 and -51.2%
vs 2019). Since the pandemic, global postal volumes have been continuously declining, largely due to the
emergence of large digital platforms that transport cross-border e-commerce by freight.
International volumes fell below 2022 levels by 7.6%, with outbound freight registering a notable 12.8%
decrease, remaining, however, above 2019 traic by almost 12%. Inbound volumes matched both 2022 and
2019 volumes. Cargo transported on freighters contracted further from the pandemic peak (-13.4% versus
2022) but climbed above the 2019 uplift by 2%, returning to the 2019 market share of almost 39%.
Domestic volumes decreased by 5.5% compared to 2022, still lagging 26.2% behind 2019 traic. Freight
declined by 6.2%, while mail posted a slight increase of 4.2%. Volumes carried on freighters were below 2022
levels by 3.8% but well above 2019 traic (+5.1%), attaining a market share of 36.8%, marginally above 2022
but notably higher than 2019 (25.8%).
Further market highlights include:
• Transit/transfer freight increased in 2023, reaching 9.2% of transported volumes compared to 6.1%
registered in 2022. These volumes are included in the declared numbers as both inbound and outbound
traic.
• International trucked volumes decreased by 13.3% compared to the previous year. Traic transported
to AIA by road includes the economy service of the integrators (90% of said traic), transit freight from
neighbouring countries for onward forwarding by airfreight, various shipments arriving at European
gateways with inal destinations in Greece and outbound freight transported to other European airports
due to the lack of air capacity ex Athens. Almost 32% of the trucked freight is registered as transit.
• Ten airlines carried almost 80% of the international cargo traic. These included: EAT/DHL, Emirates,
Aegean Airlines, Qatar Airways, Star Air (UPS), FedEx, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Air
Canada.
• Five airlines shared the domestic traic volumes: Aegean Airlines, EAT/DHL, Sky Express, Swiftair Hellas,
and Olympic Air.
• The integrators’ (DHL, FedΕx, UPS) market share declined to 30.8% (vs. 34% in 2022 and 2019), suggesting
that compared to 2022 volumes, they experienced a greater decrease than the passenger aircraft
operators.
Looking at the prospects for 2024, according to IATA analysis, air cargo is expected to grow by 4.5% in 2024
and reach 61 million tonnes. Contributing factors to this development include anticipated growth in global
trade (by 3.5%) and e-commerce traic, and resilience in the transportation of high-value special cargo. On the
other hand, challenges may be faced due to currency luctuations and disruptions in the China supply chain.
Finally, digitalisation and sustainability are two major areas of concern for air cargo in the years to come.
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