Air Cargo Skyrockets in 2021

After the 2020 crisis, air cargo has recovered significantly with a 99.1 percent growth during the first eight months of 2021, reports Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT).

A recent report from SCT showcases the important growth of Mexican air cargo. “Air cargo movement grew 99.1 percent in the 19 terminals of the ASA Network, during the first eight months of 2021.” The Airport and Auxiliary Services (ASA) Network “operates and manages 19 airports of the national airport system. ASA supplies aircraft fuel throughout the national territory through 60 stations located in the country’s airports and two supply points,” according to SEGOB. This network is distributed in different cities around the country and is of major importance to several industries. The growth of air cargo is key to Mexico’s economic recovery as the industry finds a positive rhythm in terms of development and increase of traffic flow.

SCT also highlighted the massive change from 2020 to 2021. “In these eight months of 2021, 81,218 operations were carried out at ASA Network terminals, which means a total growth of 27.5 percent, compared to the 63,711 in the same period of 2020.” The drop in operations throughout 2020 severely affected many industries but SCT also highlighted growth from 2021. “The air cargo mobilized, from and to the 19 air terminals that ASA operates and manages, registered a rebound, when accounting for 2.22 million kilograms transferred, which means a growth of 99.1 percent compared to the just over 1.11 million kilograms in 1H20.”

While the growth was spread across ASA’s whole network, SCT highlighted three airports that surpassed expectations in 2021. “The Puerto Escondido International Airport exceeds the figures for the numbers of passengers served, reaching 340,000 users, representing a 26.6 percent growth; the Ciudad del Carmen International Airport exceeded by 19.4 percent the air operations carried out in the same period in 2019, with a total of 28,175; and in terms of cargo, the Puebla International Airport exceeded pre-pandemic figures, by managing a total of 1.43 million kilograms, representing a 139.6 percent increase.” These three major winners represented the best possible outcomes of the entire ASA network.