Global air cargo demand rose by 4.0% year-on-year in April 2026, even as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted key trade routes and strained capacity across major hubs, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Data released by IATA shows that total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 4.0% compared to April 2025 levels, with international operations matching the same growth rate. However, capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), slipped by 0.4% year-on-year, reflecting ongoing operational constraints.
Despite global headwinds, African carriers emerged as a bright spot, recording a 7.7% increase in cargo demand—the second-strongest regional performance—while capacity declined sharply by 9.4%, underscoring tightening supply across the continent.
IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, said the growth reflects resilience in global supply chains but warned of mounting pressures.
“Air cargo demand grew 4% year-on-year in April, driven by strong Asia-linked trade flows. But this positive news masks a more complex operating environment. Severe disruption at major Gulf hubs due to the war in the Middle East continued to reshape trade routes and constrain capacity on key corridors,” Walsh said.
He added that dedicated freighter aircraft are carrying much of the growth, helping to sustain global supply chains amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and operating costs.
Operating Environment Remains Fragile
The broader economic backdrop remains volatile. Global trade contracted by 2.1% month-on-month in March after four consecutive months of growth, highlighting its vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.
Meanwhile, jet fuel prices surged by 121.1% year-on-year in April, alongside a 77.7% rise in crude oil prices, significantly increasing airline operating costs.
On a more positive note, global manufacturing sentiment strengthened.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.4 in April, while new export orders edged above the growth threshold at 50.2 – both indicators pointing to continued support for air cargo demand.
Regional Performance Mixed
Performance varied sharply across regions:
Asia-Pacific airlines led global growth with a 10.5% increase in demand, supported by strong trade flows, while capacity rose by 5.3%.
European carriers recorded a 6.0% increase in demand, with capacity up 3.0%.
North American airlines saw demand rise by 5.0%, alongside a modest 1.2% increase in capacity.
Middle Eastern carriers were hardest hit, with demand plunging by 18.2% and capacity down 22.9% due to ongoing conflict.
Latin American and Caribbean carriers recorded a 2.8% decline in demand, despite a 1.2% increase in capacity.
African airlines posted a robust 7.7% growth in demand, even as capacity constraints deepened.
Trade Lanes Reflect Shifting Global Patterns
Trade lane performance highlighted a clear divergence in global cargo flows:
Africa–Asia routes led growth with a 12.8% increase, marking ten consecutive months of expansion.
Europe–Asia recorded the strongest growth overall at 16.2%, extending a 38-month upward trend.
Intra-Asia trade remained resilient, growing by 13.0%.
By contrast, Gulf-linked routes saw sharp declines, with Europe–Middle East traffic down 25.9% and Middle East–Asia falling 22.4%.
The data underscores how geopolitical tensions are redrawing global air cargo networks, with Africa increasingly benefiting from shifting trade dynamics and stronger links to Asia.
As uncertainty persists, industry analysts say the coming months will test the sector’s ability to sustain growth while navigating rising costs and continued disruptions across key global corridors.