newstodate.aero
Apr 24, 2009 (newstodate): The latest CASS statistics on the Finnish export air cargo market indicate that Finland is showing cautious signs of recovery, and is performing better than the neighboring Scandinavian export airfreight markets.
In January, 2009, IATA export airfreight volumes dropped 27 percent, followed by a 20 percent decline in February, compared to same months in 2008.
But in March the decline in Finland's IATA exports volumes was reduced to 11 percent, indicating that the market is probably catching up again in 2009.
-We cannot point to any specific industrial sector leading the recovery in export volumes. It seems rather to be a general trend that can at least be termed "cautiously positive", says Mika Seppaelae, Lufthansa Cargo Finland sales manager.
-Like in any other market, however, business is tough and competition among carriers is strong, with the Finnish market of course dominated by the national carrier Finnair that has an extensive Far Eastern network.
-Also in Finland we are seeing much traffic put out on tenders, and even re-tendered after a rather short period, allowing shippers to cash in on the ever-decreasing airfreight rates. But it is really hard to say if this tendency has grown lately.
-We must still be very cautious about making any predictions about even the shorter term, but is seems that also April 2009 is not to be too bad either, says Mr Seppaelae.
In January, 2009, IATA export airfreight volumes dropped 27 percent, followed by a 20 percent decline in February, compared to same months in 2008.
But in March the decline in Finland's IATA exports volumes was reduced to 11 percent, indicating that the market is probably catching up again in 2009.
-We cannot point to any specific industrial sector leading the recovery in export volumes. It seems rather to be a general trend that can at least be termed "cautiously positive", says Mika Seppaelae, Lufthansa Cargo Finland sales manager.
-Like in any other market, however, business is tough and competition among carriers is strong, with the Finnish market of course dominated by the national carrier Finnair that has an extensive Far Eastern network.
-Also in Finland we are seeing much traffic put out on tenders, and even re-tendered after a rather short period, allowing shippers to cash in on the ever-decreasing airfreight rates. But it is really hard to say if this tendency has grown lately.
-We must still be very cautious about making any predictions about even the shorter term, but is seems that also April 2009 is not to be too bad either, says Mr Seppaelae.