newstodate.aero
MAR 02, 2004 (newestodate): The dramatic decrease in air cargo volumes at Stockholm Arlanda, down 28.2 percent in January, probably reflects structural changes in the Swedish air cargo industry.
-The Swedish economic cycle was definitely in a sustained downturn through January, as it had been through most of 2003, in the range about minus 10 percent, says Johan R�stin, SAS Cargo country manager Sweden.
-In itself this will immediately reflect in air cargo volumes, both imports and exports, he says.
-But we are also seeing a strong continued trend towards freight forwarders accepting cargo at their own off-airport terminals for trucking into Continental hubs for final onward transportation to the conseignees, thus totally by-passing the former air cargo structure, he says.
-Taken together, these factors could emerge behind the significant decrease in the airport's statistics, says Johan R�stin.
As for SAS Cargo Sweden, the company's January performance was also severely affected by a ground safety incident that temporarily halted four SAS flights between Stockholm and New York.
-The Swedish economic cycle was definitely in a sustained downturn through January, as it had been through most of 2003, in the range about minus 10 percent, says Johan R�stin, SAS Cargo country manager Sweden.
-In itself this will immediately reflect in air cargo volumes, both imports and exports, he says.
-But we are also seeing a strong continued trend towards freight forwarders accepting cargo at their own off-airport terminals for trucking into Continental hubs for final onward transportation to the conseignees, thus totally by-passing the former air cargo structure, he says.
-Taken together, these factors could emerge behind the significant decrease in the airport's statistics, says Johan R�stin.
As for SAS Cargo Sweden, the company's January performance was also severely affected by a ground safety incident that temporarily halted four SAS flights between Stockholm and New York.