(사진=대한항공)

 

[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] Freight demand is on a downward curve amid a rapid recovery in passenger demand in the airline industry. In particular, some predict that China's full-fledged border opening will raise expectations for increased passenger demand, while negatively affecting cargo supply and demand.

According to the industry on the 9th, the two sides agreed to increase the number by 608 times by the second half of the year amid the gradual lifting of entry restrictions between South Korea and China. As a result, it is expected that demand for Chinese routes will recover in earnest in and out of the industry.

On the other hand, the situation seems to have reversed, with demand for cargo, which was aimed at the COVID-19 special, gradually declining. According to the industry, Incheon International Airport's cargo transportation performance last month was 206,000 tons, down 13.0% from a year earlier. Demand for air cargo fell for the 12th straight month due to the global economic slowdown and fell below until February 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the report showed.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korean Air operated a total of 5,931 flights in January this year. This is 65% compared to January 2019 (9,100 flights) before COVID-19. Asiana Airlines operated 4,088 flights in January, up 69% from January 2019 (5,915).

Air freight rates also fell sharply, the report showed. Air freight rates on the North American-Hong Kong route, which averaged $8.43/kg last year, hit $4.93/kg in February.

 

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