Air freight demand grew 5% in July, the fastest rate for 18 months, IATA said in its monthly update. The increase, in freight tonne kilometre terms, showed wide regional variation with Europe up 7.2%, the Middle East up 6.7% and Asia-Pacific up 4.9%. In contrast, Africa was down 6.8% and Latin America dropped 5.6%. Available capacity increased overall by 5.2% in July, with Africa lading the pack with a sturdy 31.3% lift. Asia-Pacific raised capacity by only 2.7% in the month. "July was a positive month for air freight,” IATA’s new Director General Alexandre de Juniac said. “Despite that, we must recognise that we face some strong headwinds… Global trade growth is sluggish and business confidence is weak.”<br/>
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An unemployed motorcycle mechanic who gunned down airport screening officers at Los Angeles International Airport in a 2013 attack that sent passengers running for their lives pleaded guilty Tuesday to murder and 10 other charges. Paul Ciancia, 26, pleaded guilty to all 11 charges in the rampage that killed one officer and wounded two others and a teacher who was headed for a flight. Ciancia, who showed no emotion during the hearing, was spared the death penalty by entering the plea, but he faces a mandatory life term in prison at his sentencing on Nov. 7. He said very little, mostly answering “yes” and “no” to questions posed by a judge. Survivors of the attack and the family of the officer killed cried as prosecutors explained in detail how Ciancia carried out the Nov. 1, 2013, shooting, motivated by anger about security measures imposed on airline passengers by the US TSA.<br/>
Avolon Holdings, part of China's acquisitive HNA Group, is nearing a deal to buy the aircraft leasing assets of US lender CIT Group for between $3b and $4b, people familiar with the matter said. Asian lessors, led by cash-rich Chinese banks, are spending billions of dollars to expand in the $228 billion global aircraft leasing sector that offers long-term revenue in dollars and accounts for some 40% of the world's airline fleet. With the purchase, Avolon would add about 470 owned, managed and on-order aircraft to its fleet of 440-plus planes. This would make it the world's third biggest lessor behind AerCap Holdings and General Electric's GE Capital Aviation Services, which still dominate the sector. An announcement could come as early as this week, said the people. They added that negotiations were at an advanced stage but a final deal has not been agreed.<br/>
Airbus booked 144 orders in August, taking its total for the year so far to 517. The August total included a 100-jet A321neo order for AirAsia, originally announced at the Farnborough Airshow in July, which brought the low cost carrier’s order total to 575. Aircraft lessor AerCap added 10 A320neos to their order list during the month. Taking into account cancellations, the net order total for August was 438. Total order numbers for neo versions of the A320 family now stand at almost 4,800 from 87 customers. During the month, Airbus delivered 61 aircraft including 47 A320-family aircraft, six A350s and one A380 to Emirates. Total deliveries for the year to end August stood at 400.<br/>