Overall, the air freight pounds are expected to grow at a modest 2-3% annual rate as the integration of world economies over time will increasingly drive movement of small shipments directly from the point of production to the consumer.
By next year a quarter of Deutsche Post's turnover is expected to come from logistics (freight-forwarding and the like), up from almost nothing last year.
Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: 'We managed to effect the temporary repairs sooner than expected, which enabled her to operate a freight-only service to Heysham this morning.