OLD TRADE Routes Echo Airline Axis Shifts South?

摘要

Whether the growth of air cargo traffic through the Middle East over the past decade signals a clear-cut shift of global trade routes or a balancing of such routes is debatable, one thing is clear: air cargo traffic through the region is exploding.rnAccording to analysts and industry officials, the growth is keyed to several factors: geographic proximity and aggressive Middle Eastern airlines that have stepped up smartly to meet the increasing capacity demand; liberalization allowing greater penetration of European and Indian markets; and a shift in worldwide manufacturing.rnStrategically located between Europe and Asia, three Middle Eastern airlines are taking advantage of growing capacity demand for cargo and passengers throughout Asia and are now expanding in Africa and India.