DOHA: The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 7th World Cargo Symposium will be held here from March 12 to 14 at the Sheraton Doha Hotel. Qatar Airways is hosting the three-day symposium.
This year’s edition will focus on ‘Action for Sustainability’ based on the recommendations from industry leaders and delegates who attended the previous symposia. The 7th World Cargo Symposium will be building the future of our industry through modernization programs, the development of our people, our carbon footprint, our social responsibility and the economic impact of air freight to the world, QNA reported.
The Doha symposium will see representatives from the entire supply chain comprising Airline, Airport, Ground Handling Authority, Shipper, Freight Forwarder, Regulator, Customs, Civil Aviation and Solution Providers besides decision makers and experts. IATA is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 240 airlines or 84 percent of total air traffic. IATA data for November 2012 shows an improvement in both passenger and air freight demand.
Air travel was 4.6 percent higher compared to November 2011, up on the October result of 2.9 percent. Air freight volumes were up 1.6 percent over the same period after declining 2.6 percent in October, year to year. Passenger capacity rose 3.2 percent and load factor improved one percentage point to 77.3 percent compared to the year-ago period.
IATA’s Director General and CEO Tony Tyler said: “November brought some positive signs for air transport demand - particularly for air cargo. It is premature to consider this a turning point for air cargo markets in terms of bouncing back and regaining lost ground. “When coupled with positive economic developments in the US and an improvement in business confidence in recent months, the conditions are aligning to see a return to growth in 2013. In 2013 we expect that cargo volumes will grow 1.4 percent, and passenger traffic will increase by 4.5 percent worldwide.”
The Peninsula
