CHINA achieved robust increase in both of its air cargo and passenger volume in January over the same month in the preceding year with cargo traffic even soaring by a strong 68.2 per cent.

China recorded an airfreight volume of 450,726 tonnes in January with domestic volume increasing 52.4 per cent and international cargo soaring 120.8 per cent.

Passenger volume rose 11.1 per cent to 19.4 million persons. Domestic travellers increased by 10.9 per cent and international travellers by 13 per cent.

The three largest state-own air carriers in China, Air China, China Southern and China Eastern also saw growth in both cargo and passenger volume. China Southern scored robust growth in volume with better performance on international lines.

But a senior manager from China Southern pointed out in an interview that the rapid rebound is a result of foreign buyers increasing inventories which dropped substantially in 2008 and because of Christmas and New Year holiday. Whether the air cargo market recovery endures remains to be seen, he said. Information granted by weekly Hongkong Shipping Gazette.