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.