Aircargo exports up 4.3% in June

Australia exported 23,182 tonnes of airfreight in June, a small improvement on June 2008, according to Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) figures released today.

Imports fell 17% to 33,146 tonnes.

Total international freight traffic dropped 9.2% from the same period last year to 56,329 tonnes.

Qantas Airways was the top carrier with 20.7% of freight market share, though its slice of the market dipped slightly from 22.4% a year ago.

Singapore Airlines had the second-largest share of the freight market with 15%, little changed from the 15.8% it held in June 2008. 

Third-placed Cathay Pacific and Emirates, the fourth-top freight carrier, increased their respective shares by 2.7%  and 0.2%.

Sydney Airport, Australia's busiest, handled 27,562 tonnes of aircargo in June, giving it 48.9% of the freight market.

Melbourne Airport, the second biggest, handled 14,838 tonnes, or 26.3% of total freight while Brisbane Airport handled 12% of freight and Perth Airport carried 8.2%.