HONG Kong's Cathay Cargo's new general manager cargo, James Evans, has found reasons to be positive on demand despite the uncertain market, reports London's Air Cargo News.

Mr Evans said that the air cargo market was facing weaker consumer confidence and global economic pressures.

However, he added that there was "much to be positive about" and in response the carrier was adding freighter capacity on the transpacific.

"We are now into the traditional peak period and we're seeing very encouraging demand out of our home market of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), in particular to North America, which is being driven largely by e-commerce," he said.

"We have added more weekly freighter services to North America and we're seeing healthy demand from there as well."

He added that the perishable season would soon start in the southern hemisphere - boosting volumes including lobsters and fruit - and "Beaujolais nouveau exports are just around the corner".

The carrier will add five more transpacific services per week this month.