Israeli airlines' share of cargo market drops

Israeli airlines El Al and CAL saw their share of air cargo shipments drop in 2006. The two companies' share of the market to and from Israel was 63.1% of all cargo shipments, according to figures presented to the director general of the Transportation Ministry, Gideon Siterman.

El Al's share of the air cargo market dropped from 46.3% in 2005 to 44.6% in 2006, while CAL's share went from 20.1% in 2005 to 18.5% in 2006.

In addition to their cargo business to and from Israel, both airlines have significant air cargo activities between Europe and the U.S., as well as lines to Africa and the Far East.

In 2006 a total of 319,000 tons of air freight were shipped through Ben-Gurion Airport, a 4% increase over the 308,000 tons of cargo in 2005.

Most of the air freight, 65%, was shipped on dedicated cargo planes, while the remainder of the cargo flew on regular passenger planes.