US Air Cargo Drops After Economic Slowdown. From Journal of Commerce
May 2, 2001

The slowdown in the economy continued to take its toll on the U.S. air cargo business as volume dropped 4% in March, according to the Air Transport Association. The industry could take some consolation from the fact that the March numbers were not as bad as those in February, when traffic was off 5.6%. Of course, the greater drop-off in February could be due in part to the fact that there were just 28 days that month this year, compared to 29 last year. Domestic traffic fell 8.2% in March, more than offsetting a narrow 0.4% gain in international volume, the Washington-based trade group said. Domestic freight and express volume was off 8.1%, while domestic mail fell 8.2%. International freight and express volume edged up 0.3%, while international mail was up 2.7%. For the first three months, total volume was off 2.7%, with domestic business off 6% and international up 0.8%. Domestic freight and express volume fell 5.9%, while domestic mail slipped 6.4%. International freight and express rose 0.8%, while international mail was up 1%.