Air cargoes plunge by 13.6%

Recent economic slow-downs have led to outbound international air cargoes dropping by 13.6% in the second quarter this year compared to the second quarter last year.

The Ministry of Construction and Transportation announced on July 25 that export cargoes transported by Korean Airliners in the April to June period plummeted to 291,000 tons, a 13.6% decline from 337,000 tons in the same period last year.

On the other hand, foreign airliners handled an additional 6.2%, up to 154,000 tons from 145,000 tons. The total number of passengers recorded 5.11 million in the same period, an 8.5% growth from 4.71 million passengers a year earlier. Passengers using Korean Airliners came to 3.16 million, a 3.6% increased over 2000, however, foreign airliner passengers jumped by 17.5% to 1.95 million from 1.66 million. Increases for foreign airliners can be attributed to foreign airliner expansions for the new Inchon International Airport opening.

The number of airliners operating in Korea totaled 46, including Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, with a total of 245 routes flying 1,157 flights on a weekly basis.