Trailing data released Tuesday by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed total air cargo volume in April plunged 27.7%, year-over year because of the global recession caused by the coronavirus crisis. The airline industry group said it was the sharpest one-month fall in cargo business since it started collecting data in 1990.
The figure is consistent with previous anecdotal accounts from companies and market research. World ACD, which tracks airway bills — essentially the proof of receipt — issued by several dozen air carriers, three weeks ago said airfreight demand fell 31.7% in April versus 2019 and 22.8% from March.