Fifteen airlines have signed up to a new initiative that will see the government partially underwrite agriculture and fisheries airfreight routes previously cut off by the coronavirus crisis.

Singapore Airlines has reported passenger growth of 6.5 per cent for the airline group for August. However cargo volumes fell 10.2 per cent.

Air freight volumes fell for an eighth consecutive month in June amid business uncertainty and ongoing trade tensions between China and the US, IATA says.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures show global cargo volumes recovered slightly in March after four consecutive months of contraction.