Air cargo is expected to resume growth with the economic crisis coming to an end, and at an average rate of six per cent annually, according to the Malaysian Minister of Transport Ong Tee Keat.

"Asia will be at the forefront of this cargo growth and naturally, we should take the leading role in further facilitating and spurring this sector of our economy," he told the World Air Cargo Organisation (WACO) International Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Bernama news agency reported noted that since the global financial crisis took hold in the fourth quarter of 2008, air freight has suffered a decline of 25-35 per cent.

"The liberalisation of Asean markets and the depreciation of the US dollar pose a major threat to the freight business," he said.

"Everyone [within the air freight industry] is competing with each other to maximise their profits while reducing cost."

Numerous mergers and acquisitions of freight forwarders by the large multinational freight forwarders "has made the industry very competitive especially with the small and medium freight forwarders," the report said.

On the other hand, the minister pointed out that the ongoing liberalisation and globalisation efforts in the aviation sector have "radically transformed" the region, "opening up economies, increasing international consumer demand and fuelling the growth of the air cargo industry," the report said.

The report cited the minister as saying that realising that route liberalisation can open new doors to economies, the Malaysian government has always given full support to the industry.

It plays an active role in all multilateral, regional and bilateral forums to further enhance the flexibility and capacity of the air transport industry, he added.