Foreword
Positive yet hesitant growth characterizes the market for 2006. World air cargo traffic grew 12 percent in 2004 relative to 2003, only to slow markedly in 2005, expanding just 2 percent over year 2004. Much of this recent deceleration can be attributed to the rise in jet fuel prices since late 2004. Despite this slowdown, world traffic levels have expanded 3.1 percent during the first half of 2006 relative to 2005, and interest in new freighter aircraft has not abated.
Data represented as historical in this document were complied from many sources, including the Air Cargo Management Group, Air Transport Association, Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines, Association of European Airlines, Boeing Foreign Trade Database, Global Insight, International Air Transport Association, International Civil Aviation Organization, and U.S. Department of Transportation Form 41. Historical information is updated each year as sources revise their databases.
This document would not be possible without the efforts of several contributors. The Boeing production team for the 2006/2007 World Air Cargo Forecast included the Creative Services group design, production, and web teams; the Writing and Editing Services team; and our colleagues in the Market Analysis Group.Also, our colleague, Tobias Lutterodt, researched and wrote our chapters on Africa and the Middle East.
Special thanks are extended to Simon Walker of Aquila Aviation. Mr. Walker contributed the Air India 777-200ER photographs that appear in the Southwest Asia chapter of this edition.
The next edition of the forecast will appear in fourth quarter 2008. The authors welcome any questions or comments readers may have. All queries and suggestions should be directed to:
The Boeing World Air Cargo Forecast Team
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
P. O. Box 3707, MC 21-33
Seattle, WA 98124-2207 USA
Fax: 206-766-1030
- 206-766-2576
- 206-766-2568
- 206-766-2643
- 206-766-1347