Boeing has released its World Air Cargo Forecast showing that air cargo has rebounded in 2014 and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.7 per cent over the next 20 years — more than doubling. “We see strong signs of a recovery as air freight traffic levels continue to strengthen after several years of stagnation,” says Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President for Marketing Randy Tinseth. “The air cargo market is now growing at nearly the long-term rates.”
Intra-Europe air cargo is expected to increase 2 per cent per year, while Europe-to-North America grows at 3.1 per cent. Asia represents a major growth opportunity for European air cargo, with Europe-to-East Asia forecast to expand at 5.1 per cent per year, Europe-to-South Asia forecast at 4.7 per cent, and Europe-to-Middle East at 4 percent.
Other promising growth areas for European air cargo include the Latin America-to-Europe corridors — already a fast-growing zone — with growth forecast at 4.8 per cent, as well as Europe-to-Africa, with expected growth of 4.3 per cent.
This growth in air cargo, along with projected growth in passenger travel, will require effective policy implementation of the European Union’s goals for the Single European Sky and SESAR — which will improve environmental efficiency while boosting throughput — as well as increased sustainability in fuels and technology. Boeing is strongly committed to sustainable growth of aviation through its investments in second-generation aviation biofuels and advanced aerospace technology.
