The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for August 2016global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), rose 3.9 per cent year-on-year.
Freight capacity measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs) increased by 4.1 per cent over the same period.
Load factors remained historically low, keeping yields under pressure.
Industry conditions have improved since the particularly soft patch at the start of the year, the IATA said in a press release.
Carriers in all regions except Latin America reported an increase in year-on-year demand in August. However, regional results varied considerably.
For the third time in four months airlines based in Europe posted the highest collective annual growth of all regions, while airlines in the Middle East experienced their slowest growth in more than seven years, the IATA said.
Commenting on the latest figures, Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO, said: 'August numbers showed improvements in cargo demand. While this is good news, the underlying market conditions make it difficult to have long-term optimism. World trade volumes fell by 1.1 per cent in July with no improvement on the horizon. And the current global political rhetoric in much of the world is more focused on protectionism than trade promotion. Economies need to grow out of the current economic doldrums. Governments should be focused on promoting trade, not raising protectionist barriers,' he said.