China Airlines Moves up to Globally 6th as Cargo Carrier in 2013

China Airlines, Taiwan's flag carrier, advanced one notch to become world's sixth largest cargo shipper last year, according to Canada-based International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In 2013 China Airlines carried consigned goods of 1.197 million tons, up 8.9% from 2012's 1.099 million tons, exceeding the 1.092 million tons carried by Singapore Airlines. In terms of FRTK (freight revenue ton kilometer), China Airlines recorded 4.813 billion ton-kilometers last year, up  6% from 2012's figure to rank No. 10 globally.

With economic recovery in parts of the world, China Airlines witnessed a sizable 13% year-on-year growth in freight volume in the first eight months of this year, with such volume to keep ballooning in Q4 due to shipments of 3C products for the Christmas season.

China Airlines has 80 freighters with 21 being B747-400F cargo-only aircrafts, flying to 32 destinations globally in 84 cargo flights weekly mainly to North America, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.

The company's passenger aircrafts also has room for cargo, with a Boeing 747 able to carry 20 tons, an Airbus 330 15 tons and a Boeing 737 2.5 tons.

In October 2012 China Airlines joined SkyTeam Cargo to become Taiwan's only airline in the group and in March of this year the airline became one of IATA's Cargo 2000 members to be the first Taiwanese company in this international air transport organization.

As for passenger flights, its Taiwan-South Korea route may grow the highest this year based on annual growth of Taiwan-bound S. Korean passengers having soared 77.14% in the first seven months, with S. Korea-bound Taiwanese passengers up  20.67%.

To counter, China Airlines plans to double the number of weekly flights from Taipei to Busan to 14 from the current 7 starting Oct. 26,  and increase the number of weekly flights from Kaohsiung to Seoul to 14, in addition to opening a new route from Taichung to Seoul with 7 weekly flights. (JL)

World's Top-10 Air Cargo Carriers in 2013
Rank	Carrier
1	Emirates
2	Federal Express
3	United Parcel Service (UPS)
4	Korean Air
5	Thai Airway International
6	China Airlines
7	Singapore Airlines
8	Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas)
9	Lufthansa
10	Asiana Airlines

Source: IATA