ASIA Pacific airlines recorded a 26.8 per cent year-on-year increase in international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres in July, slightly above the volumes recorded in July 2019, reports New Delhi's Times of India.

Meanwhile, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) also posted weak passenger volumes continued amid a rise in Covid infections, said the AAPA report.

"Air cargo remains the single bright spot for the region's airlines, with strong external demand boosting cargo revenue. However, this remains largely insufficient in mitigating the drastic fall in passenger volumes," said AAPA director general Subhas Menon.

The average international freight load factor climbed by 6.2 percentage points to 76.2 per cent for the month after accounting for a 16.4 per cent year-on-year increase in offered freight capacity.

"The outlook for air travel is dependent on further progress with vaccinations across Asia and globally. Crucially, greater collaboration among governments on harmonised cross-border measures is necessary, in line with ICAO and WHO recommendations," said Mr Menon.