SIA cargo demand grows

SIA cargo demand grows

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore Airlines Ltd said yesterday its cargo traffic was growing in double figures and the passenger market traffic had remained steady despite recent turmoil in Southeast Asia's financial markets.

"Cargo has definitely turned around. We are seeing double digit growth in cargo. It is not only in Singapore but in most parts of the world," said Michael Tan, SIA's deputy managing director for commercial affairs.

Tan told reporters at the launch of the airline's new inflight audio and video on demand system for first and business class passengers that he expected the outlook for cargo to be strong over the next six months.

Tan was not able to supply precise figures, but an airline official said cargo tonnage carried by SIA rose 15 percent in the six months from February to July 1997 over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Tan said the regional turmoil in currencies and stocks, which have fallen sharply in many Southeast Asian countries, did not have any major impact on SIA passenger traffic except in Thailand, the worst hit in the crisis.