BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 6.5-percent year-on-year increase in freight volumes in February, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Monday.

The Asia-Pacific region has become the largest freight-flying region worldwide, carrying about 37 percent of global air freight, IATA said when releasing data on global air freight markets for February 2018.

The region's air freight capacity saw a 7.2 percent year-on-year increase measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), the organization said.

The upward trend in seasonally-adjusted volumes has returned, with volumes currently trending up at an annualized pace of between 6 and 7 percent.

Despite the growth momentum, the risks from protectionist measures impacting the region are disproportionately high, IATA said at the press release.

Global air freight demand saw a 6.8 percent year-on-year increase in February, and the freight capacity grew by 5.6 percent, said IATA.

IATA represents some 280 airlines or 83 percent of total air traffic.