China Airlines (CAL), the largest air carrier in Taiwan, has been ranked the fifth in the world in terms of air cargo volume in 2004, according to reports reaching HK from Taipei on Monday.

Quoting the latest statistics released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a spokesman for the company said CAL's cargo transport volume exceeded 5.7 billion on a freight ton-kilometer (FTK) basis in 2004, up 19.6 percent from the year- earlier level.

The world's top four air cargo carriers for 2004 were Korean Air, Lufthansa Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways.

At present, CAL boasts the world's largest B747-400F air cargo fleet, with 17 B747-400 all-cargo planes.

The company's all-cargo fleet is expected to increase to 21 planes by 2007.

Source: Xinhua