CAAP airports handle 24.6% less cargo in Jan-April

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  • Cargo volume handled by airports under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines declined 24.6% in the first four months of 2021
  • Volume exceeded the target by 38.3%
  • Flights dropped 19.4% while passenger traffic declined 76.9%

Cargo volume handled by airports under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) declined 24.6% in the first four months of 2021 but exceeded the target.

According to its latest accomplishment report, CAAP said cargoes handled from January to April 2021 reached 40.150 million kilograms, lower than the 53.259 million kg year-on-year.

The latest figure was, however, 38.3% more than the 29.041 million kg target for the period.

CAAP volumes do not include those passing through Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Subic Airport and Clark International Airport, as these facilities are operated by other entities.

Flights for the first four months of the year dropped 19.4% to 135,720 from 168,391 in the same period last year.

Travel restrictions affected passenger traffic, recording a 76.9% decline in the first four months to 1.317 million from 5.708 million last year.

CAAP earlier said a gradual recovery was observed towards the end of December 2020 due to the easing of community quarantines and deployment of flights catering to medical missions, sweeper flights, Overseas Filipino Workers, locally stranded individuals, and Authorized Persons Outside of Residence.

CAAP noted, however, that even though flights were allowed to resume, a number of airports and local governments opted to close their borders to visitors for health and safety purposes.