transpacific Finally, in the US Midwest fight for cargo business, a
significant development took place on 26 August when a Chinese-chartered freighter touched down at MidAmerica St Louis airport in southern Illinois. The aircraft departed from Shanghai Pudong
International airport with 83 tons of general cargo, stopping at Anchorage on the way. Sky Lease Cargo operated the aircraft, and Beijing Expedient Services and Transportation (EST Cargo) of China chartered the flight. St Clair County Board chairman Mark Kern said that the
three to Shanghai as it sees a return in demand from Chinese manufacturing companies who are stepping up production after the global economic downturn. The integrator is working with the Chinese government to secure the rights to increase the frequency of flights in and out of its hub in Shenzhen. However, others, including China’s own carriers, are hotly contesting these rights. Global integrator FedEx is also deeply involved in the
transpacific trade to and from China. In a move to bolster the capacity of its MD-11F fleet, FedEx is introducing its new B777F freighters on transpacific routes to China. The company launched the 103-tonne payload aircraft into the market in February with a publicity coup as the ‘Panda Express’ flew a special mission between the US and China. The freighter delivered two giant pandas from the US to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. FedEx has its Asia Pacific hub in Guangzhou, which it opened in February 2009.
TRADE DEFICIT A WORRY
WHILE AIR CARGO operators continue to count their lucky stars at the incredible turnaround in their freight fortunes to the US seen so far this year, there are still underlying causes for concern, not least the widening trade imbalance between the US and China. The US trade deficit widened
a surprising 18.8 percent in June on a surge of consumer goods from China and other suppliers, suggesting US second-quarter economic growth was much weaker than previously thought, according to statistics revealed on 11 August. The monthly trade gap totalled
US$49.9 billion, the highest since October 2008, the US Commerce Department reported. “The strength in imports,
though hinting at some pickup in consumer spending, continues to undermine GDP growth. Moreover, the slowing in exports will only fan fears of a faltering US recovery,” said Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. Many economists have already
trimmed their estimates on signs that business inventories had risen more slowly than the government first thought. In its first estimate of GDP growth late in August, the Commerce Department had said
test flight is the first step towards establishing international air cargo links with China before the end of the year. “It proves that MidAmerica has everything it needs to function as an international cargo airport,” he noted. “We look forward to developing a new air trade route in the coming months.” With Boeing announcing a week previously that it
would soon occupy the airport’s existing cargo terminal, MidAmerica plans to build extra facilities to accommodate other perishable and general cargo. The new trade route has been six years in the making. In
2005, the airport completed the cargo terminal, and 3,600 acres of the airport became part of the Foreign Trade Zone 31. It was named a US Port of Entry the following year, when its first international shipment arrived from South America. Two years later, refrigeration was introduced for flights carrying fresh flowers, produce, herbs and pharmaceuticals. Whether it be the big, established intercontinental
gateways or the smaller, regional newcomers, it seems that both Chinese and American airport authorities are increasingly courting airlines from overseas to fill their runways.
the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the April to June period. US imports of goods and
services grew by 3 percent in June to $200.3 billion, the highest since October 2008, in a show of strengthening domestic demand. Imports of consumer goods hit a record $43.1 billion and imports of non-petroleum goods were the highest since August 2008. Imports from China soared to
$32.9 billion, the highest since October 2008. The closely watched US trade deficit with the East Asian country widened to $26.2 billion, also the highest since October 2008, while US exports to China fell slightly.
AIR LOGISTICSCHINA 25
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