Turkish Cargo increases February traffic
ISTANBUL: April 09, 2019. Turkish Cargo increased its cargo and mail traffic in February from the previous month by 1.33 percent to total 99,112 tons flown, despite a decline in global industry figures.
Last week IATA reported a 4.7 percent drop in airfreight demand in February, the fourth consecutive month of negative year-on-year results and the worst performance in the last three years.
Citing IATA and WorldACD data, the cargo entity of Turkish Airlines said it had increased its market share in "sold tonnage" by 0.6 points in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period in 2018, with growth of 4.3 percent and a rise in cumulative market share by 0.4 points to 4.1 percent.
"We can't say that the success we achieved during the first two months of 2019 was a surprise," commented Turkish Airlines chairman M. İlker Aycı. "We continuously experience these exciting achievements especially in recent years. For instance, in the last two years, we rose from 12th place to 7th place after surpassing five big global air cargo brands from Europe and Far East.
"Especially considering that the shrinkage in the demand for the market causes gloom in the sector with disappointing numbers, this success brightens the future of Turkish Cargo even more. With our determination and growth strategy in the air cargo market, Turkish Cargo will be one of the top five air cargo brands in the world. I express my thanks to all my colleagues who contributed to this success," he added.
With a move to the new Istanbul Airport last week (pictured), the airline said it will continue a "Dual Hub'" cargo operation with Atatürk Airport - where it began its first international air cargo service in 1936.