The Airports Council International (ACI) says improvements in business confidence, economic outlook and global trade helped revive airfreight volumes at the world’s airports in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017.

ACI notes overall freight volumes increased 8.3 per cent year-over-year in Q1 of 2017 and 10.9 per cent for the month of March with this increase coinciding with an increase in export orders and inventory build-ups in key markets.

At a regional level, growth was led by Africa (+15.6 per cent) and Middle East (+15.5 per cent), followed by very strong results from Europe (+13.7 per cent) and Asia Pacific (+13 per cent). North America (+5.9 per cent) and Latin America-Caribbean (+4.7 per cent) alsoposted robust growth for the month of March 2017.