Global Air Cargo Demand Rises 8.5% in June as African Airlines Record Growth Despite Capacity Decline

Global air cargo demand maintained strong momentum in June 2026, rising by 8.5 per cent year-on-year, with African airlines recording positive growth despite operating with reduced capacity, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The global aviation body said total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 8.5 per cent compared to June 2025, while international operations posted an even stronger 9.6 per cent increase.

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), grew by 4.4 per cent globally and by 4.9 per cent for international operations.

The figures indicate that demand continued to outpace capacity across most regions, reflecting resilient global trade flows and sustained demand for time-sensitive and high-value cargo shipments.

Commenting on the performance, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the industry entered the second half of the year on a positive note, although significant geopolitical and trade-related risks remain.

According to Walsh, air cargo demand expanded by 8.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, with every region recording positive growth.

He noted that North America contributed the most to the global increase, while demand exceeded capacity growth worldwide except in Latin America and the Caribbean.

He attributed the stronger performance to increased shipments of high-value technology products and urgent freight, adding that demand also outpaced the growth in global trade.

Walsh, however, cautioned that ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and renewed attention to tariffs by the United States could pose challenges to sustained growth during the remainder of 2026.

IATA reported that global trade expanded by 5.2 per cent year-on-year in June, while jet fuel prices declined by 20 per cent compared with the previous month.

Despite the monthly drop, fuel prices remained 45.8 per cent higher than the level recorded in June 2025.

The association also noted that global manufacturing activity softened slightly during the month but remained supportive of cargo demand.

Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased by 0.5 points to 53.0, while the New Export Orders Index remained below the neutral 50-point threshold for the fourth consecutive month at 49.4.

According to IATA, this suggests that the strong growth in air cargo was driven more by specific trade corridors and specialised cargo than by a broad-based recovery in global exports.

African airlines posted a 4.7 per cent increase in air cargo demand during June, placing the continent ahead of Latin America and the Caribbean but behind North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Notably, Africa was the only region to record a significant reduction in cargo capacity, with available cargo tonne-kilometres falling by 7.1 per cent compared with June 2025.

Despite the lower capacity, African carriers improved their cargo load factor by 5.4 percentage points to 48.1 per cent, indicating stronger utilisation of available cargo space.

Africa accounted for 2.1 per cent of global air cargo traffic during the period.
IATA’s trade lane analysis also highlighted Africa’s growing importance in international cargo markets.

The Africa–Asia corridor expanded by 0.9 per cent in June, marking its twelfth consecutive month of growth, demonstrating sustained trade links between the two regions despite global economic uncertainties.

Among the regions, North American airlines delivered the strongest performance with a 13.1 per cent increase in cargo demand, while capacity grew by 6.2 per cent.

Asia-Pacific carriers recorded a 7.9 per cent rise in demand, supported by a 4.3 per cent increase in capacity.

European airlines also maintained steady growth, posting a 6.9 per cent increase in cargo demand alongside a 3.7 per cent expansion in capacity.

Middle Eastern airlines reported a 5.6 per cent increase in demand and a 2.5 per cent rise in capacity. However, IATA noted that the figures were influenced by comparisons with a particularly weak June 2025, when military conflict significantly disrupted operations across the region.

Latin American and Caribbean airlines posted the weakest performance globally, recording demand growth of just 3.5 per cent while capacity expanded by 9.8 per cent, making it the only region where capacity growth exceeded demand.

Trade lane performance varied considerably during the month. The Asia–North America corridor remained the strongest-performing international cargo market, recording a 14.7 per cent increase in demand and extending its growth streak to five consecutive months. The route accounted for 23.5 per cent of global air cargo traffic.

Europe–Asia continued its long-term expansion with a 7.1 per cent increase, marking its fortieth consecutive month of growth, while intra-Asia cargo traffic rose by 7.2 per cent for the thirty-second consecutive month.

Although Africa–Asia posted a more modest 0.9 per cent increase, the trade lane maintained an uninterrupted twelve-month growth streak, underscoring improving commercial ties between African and Asian markets.

By contrast, routes linked to the Middle East continued to experience the effects of regional instability.

Europe–Middle East cargo traffic plunged by 41.1 per cent, recording a fourth straight month of contraction, while Middle East–Asia traffic declined by 4.1 per cent over the same period.

Overall, the June data suggest that while geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties continue to affect some markets, the global air cargo industry remains resilient, supported by robust demand for specialised freight services and expanding trade across key international corridors.