United and other U.S. carriers have reported that demand for fruits, vegetables and other short-shelf life products, is growing, a United spokesman told.
According to the spokesman, the airline transported 3.2 million tons of cherries in 2017, 54 percent more on the year, with its largest markets in Osaka, Toyko, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
United Airlines on Tuesday forecast cargo revenues of between $245 million and $265 million in the quarter ended in September, 14 percent higher than the year-ago period.
American Airlines said its cargo unit had its best August since the carrier's merger with U.S. Airways in 2013, and it expects to generate about $780 million from flying cargo this year, up 11 percent from 2016.
The revenue makes up a tiny portion of airlines' overall income, which for American was about $40 billion last year. But it does help carriers that have been grappling with how to increase profits amid competition from low-cost carriers and higher costs.
Source: cnbc.com
