“U.S. airlines saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 17 percent year over year (12 percent domestically and 23 percent internationally) in December 2009, driven primarily by increased international trade. January 2010 cargo data is not yet available.

For the full year 2009, cargo traffic declined 11 percent compared to 2008. The decline in cargo traffic from 2008 to 2009 was the largest on record, eclipsing the decline observed from 2000 to 2001.

“The modest uptick in passenger revenue and the solid increase in cargo volumes are promising signs that air-transport demand may be at the beginning of a long-awaited recovery,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May.”