Domestic air cargo and parcel post volumes in China increased 1.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, compared with sharp falls in the last quarter of 2008, according to Ministry of Transport data. Total air cargo volume for the first quarter declined 16 per cent year-on-year, but a smaller fall of 13.5 per cent was registered in March, reported Cargonews Asia.

Gross air cargo volume in the mainland stood at 8.83m tonnes in 2008, up 2.6 per cent over the previous year but 13 per cent down from the annual growth in 2007.

The China Air Transport Association said the statistics indicated that the domestic air transport sector was on its way to recovery.