Shanghai airport's October cargo volume up 11pc

SHANGHAI Airport Authority has announced its cargo volume rose 11 per cent in October year on year to 261,400 tonnes, representing a 3.2 per cent increase over September's growth, Logistics Week reported.

Domestic air freight volume fell 4.7 per cent, but thanks to a 2.1 per cent increase in international cargo, there was an overall increase in volume.

Aircraft movement rose 10.3 per cent year on year to 25,900 flights, down 1.9 per cent over September. Passenger throughput rose 17.1 per cent year on year to 3.02 million people, down 1.1 per cent over September.

On domestic routes, there were 13,400 flights, up 25.2 per cent year on year. Some 1.6 million passengers when through the airport during October with international routes recording 9,300 flights, down five per cent and with passenger volume down 1.35 per cent to 1.02 million people.

Shanghai Airport Authority currently has two terminals and three runways, which are able to provide capacity needed to meet its target of 4.2 million passengers of 60 million and aircraft movements (490,000 a year) by 2015.

The recovery of domestic air market has resulted in the rapid increase in passenger volume. International routes are also improving.

The Shanghai 2010 Expo and soon-to-be-built new Disneyland are expected to further stimulate the airport's business. Estimates based on statistical records of the World Expo showed that the 184-day event in 2010 will bring over 70 million visitors from home and abroad, 50 per cent of whom will travel by air, including five per cent by international carrier.

Shanghai airport's third quarter operating report shows that the company achieved an operating revenue of CNY2.4 billion (US$351.5 million), up 0.65 per cent year on year. Net profit slid 28 per cent to CNY477 million. Earnings per share were CNY0.25. Net asset value per share was CNY6.54. Rate of return on net assets was 3.78 per cent.