JOC Online reports that Asia’s air carriers saw their strongest signs yet of recovery in the air cargo business, reporting their busiest month in September in nearly a year. The year-over-year decline was the slimmest the AAPA (Assoc. of Asia Pacific Airlines)  has reported since August 2008.  Traffic reached 4.06 freight metric-ton kilometers flown, the highest number the AAPA has reported since November 2008 and nearly 28% better than the low point of the downturn in February.

The improving demand also came as the air carriers got dramatically more efficient. Industry analysts say air carriers have grounded more than 200 freighters over the past year, and many were working in the Asia-Pacific market.