With a snapshot look at four airlines, Aviation News is reporting that air cargo seems to be robust, even for carries whose passenger traffic is down.

Air China has reported net profit of 543 million euros in the first half of 2010 for a 60percent increase over the same period last year. According to an interview with the official China Daily newspaper, passenger revenue in the six months grew by 47.8 percent over the same period last year, with a total of 26.3 million passengers. However, the airline stated that the best results were in cargo, which increased 109.1 percent in the period compared to the same period last year.

Delta Air Lines passenger traffic in august increased 1.1 percent on 1.2-percent increased capacity, keeping the load factor flat at 86.5 percent. While domestic traffic fell 1.0 percent in August, international traffic grew 4.2 percent with Latin America leading the growth with a 10.1-percent increase, with the Pacific up 9.5 percent. Year-to-date traffic in the eight months had a system growth of 0.4 percent, with Latin America up 5.9 percent, second in growth for the year-to-date to the Pacific with 12.2-percent growth. Passenger cargo (no freighter service this year) was up 37.9 percent for the year and 26.6 percent in August.

American Airlines reports system traffic up 3.1 percent in August, with year-to-date for the eight months up 1.7 percent. In August the Pacific had the greatest growth with an increase of 21.4 percent month-over-month, followed by Latin America with 9-percent growth. For the year-to-date, the Pacific showed a growth of 11.6 percent followed by Latin America with 5.7 percent. System cargo ton miles were up 13.5 percent in August with year-to-date growth of 19.2 percent.

Continental Airlines, soon to be part of the largest airline, with the merger with United Airlines, reported system traffic in august practically flat with a 0.45 decrease overall. The Pacific led the regions with 7.5percent growth in the month, with Latin America down 7.1 percent.  Year-to-date system traffic actually increased 2.9 percent in the period. The Pacific continues to be the leader in traffic growth with 17.95 percent followed by Latin America with 5.2 percent. Cargo ton miles in August grew 11.2 percent, with the year-to-date cargo growth at 26.1 percent.

Source: AV Aviation Global News