Large Widebody Freighter ACMI Services
After declining in 2001 and 2002, traffic on large widebody ACMI providers rebounded strongly in 2004 and 2005.
The freighter wet-lease airline, or aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) provider, satisfies important market requirements. It offers airlines the flexibility to obtain air transportation services on a trial basis when demand is uncertain, to augment existing markets and provide service in markets that are highly seasonal, without investing in dedicated equipment.
ACMI services are offered for all freighter sizes, but most growth since the early 1990s has been in long-haul, intercontinental widebody freighter markets. However, demand for commercial wet-lease capacity declined markedly in 2001 and 2002 as world air cargo traffic weakened. By 2003, demand began to recover. During 2004 and 2005, traffic grew 19.1 percent and 19.9 percent, respectively. In 2005, ACMI carriers transported approximately 6.2 percent of world air cargo traffic.