Global air cargo demand grew 4.4% year-on-year in August 2026, according to the International Air Transport Association, which published the figures in a press release dated 29 September 2026. The association reported that total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers, rose compared with August 2025, with international operations posting a 5.3% increase.

Read also: Global Air Cargo Tonnages Rebound Ahead of Chinese Holiday Period

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers, edged down 0.1% year-on-year, while international capacity was up 0.1%. The global cargo load factor stood at 46.0%, a rise of 2.0 percentage points from a year earlier.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said demand increased across every region even as capacity was reduced slightly. She noted that solid demand and higher load factors allowed airlines to recover part of the unusually high fuel costs, and that yields improved month-on-month for the first time since April. She described both developments as encouraging signs as the year-end peak season approaches.

Operating Environment

IATA highlighted several background factors. Global trade expanded 6.0% year-on-year in July, marking 33 consecutive months of year-on-year growth. Jet fuel prices climbed 8.3% month-on-month in August and were 79.2% above their level a year earlier. Global manufacturing activity also strengthened in August, with the Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index up 0.3 points to 53.0 and the New Export Orders Index up 1.4 points to 51.4. Both readings remained supportive of air cargo demand.

Regional Performance

North American carriers recorded the strongest regional result, with demand up 6.6% year-on-year, while capacity fell 2.5%. Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand rise 4.3% and capacity increase 1.2%. European carriers posted a 4.1% gain in demand as capacity declined 3.5%. Latin American and Caribbean carriers registered a 5.1% increase in demand alongside a 3.3% rise in capacity. Middle Eastern carriers reported the weakest regional growth at 1.0%, with capacity up 3.3%. African airlines saw demand grow 3.0% while capacity rose 14.0%.

In terms of 2025 cargo tonne-kilometer market share by carrier region, Asia-Pacific accounted for 35.8%, North America 24.6%, Europe 21.4%, the Middle East 13.2%, Latin America and the Caribbean 2.9%, and Africa 2.1%.

Trade Lane Trends

Performance varied across major trade lanes. Asia–North America recorded the strongest growth at 13.2%, extending its run of expansion to seven consecutive months, and held a 23.5% market share. Within Asia grew 6.1% for a 34th straight month of growth, with a 7.3% share. Europe–North America rose 4.3% for a fourth consecutive month of growth, with a 13.5% share. Europe–Asia increased 3.1%, a 42nd consecutive month of growth, with a 21.5% share.

Several corridors contracted. Africa–Asia fell 11.9%, a third consecutive month of decline, with a 1.3% share. Europe–Middle East dropped 12.1% for a sixth straight month of contraction, with a 5.2% share. Middle East–Asia declined 11.0%, also a sixth consecutive month of contraction, with a 7.4% share. IATA noted that Gulf-linked corridors remained disrupted by conflict in the Middle East.

IATA represents more than 370 airlines, which it says account for roughly 85% of global air traffic. Its statistics cover international and domestic scheduled air cargo for both member and non-member airlines.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform