European Airlines and integrators have been the most active in adding capacity to the Asia-Europe trade lane to make up for the shortfall created by the loss of operations via the Middle East.
Research published by consultant Aevean shows that direct freighter and widebody capacity from Asia to Europe was up 31% in the week ending 21 March compared with the week ending February 28, the week before fighting broke out in the Middle East.
The increase was led by European-based airlines, which increased cargo capacity by 38% between the two weeks, while integrators increased their capacity by 126%.
While the integrator increase was higher in percentage terms, European airlines increased actual cargo tonne kms by a higher amount as they started from a higher base.
Asia Pacific airlines upped their space by 13% and North American airlines by 59%.
Last week, Aevean published research showing that on a global basis, cargo capacity was around 2% down year on year, compared with a 20% decrease on last year’s levels at the height of the crisis.
The consultant’s figures show that capacity from Asia Pacific into the Middle East was down 24% year on year, while from the Middle East to Europe, there was a 15% decline.
In contrast, Aevean’s figures showed a 31% increase in capacity from Asia Pacific to Europe.
Indeed, this week has seen announcements from European companies regarding capacity expansion plans.
Uzbekistan-based cargo airline My Freighter has begun operating new routes between Asia and Frankfurt Airport (FRA) as part of its network expansion plans.
The Tashkent-hubbed airline said in a press release that from 29 March, weekly flights will operate between Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN), Tashkent, Uzbekistan (TAS) and FRA; Bangkok, Thailand (BKK), TAS and FRA; Almaty, Kazakhstan (ALA), TAS and FRA; as well as TAS and FRA.
Meanwhile, DHL Global Forwarding has expanded its capacity on the Asia-Europe trade lane through the use of the DHL Express network.
The forwarder has announced the launch of weekly flights connecting Shanghai to Leipzig and Liège to Hong Kong through its partnership with DHL Express in response to rising demand on the Asia-Europe trade lane.
And Lufthansa Cargo has revealed its summer freighter schedule with extra flights across the transpacific and Delhi added to the lineup.
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