Global air cargo demand continued its upward trajectory in May, rising 6% year-on-year as strong growth in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America offset a sharp decline in the Middle East, according to new data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The increase highlights the resilience of the global air freight sector amid shifting trade patterns, geopolitical tensions and uneven economic recovery across regions.

Global cargo demand outpaced capacity growth

According to IATA, total air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 6% compared with May 2025. International cargo operations performed even better, recording a 6.5% annual increase.

At the same time, global cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), grew at a much slower pace of 1.9%, while international capacity expanded by 2.8%. The gap between demand and capacity growth suggests continued strength in the air freight market.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the industry maintained solid momentum despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

"Air cargo demand grew 6% year-on-year in May, with Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North American regions all reporting above-trend growth," Walsh said.

Africa Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Market

African carriers posted the strongest regional performance in May, with air cargo demand surging by 13.3% year-on-year, while capacity increased by only 1.3%.

North American airlines recorded the second-fastest growth rate, with demand rising 10.5% and capacity expanding by 2.4%.

Asia-Pacific carriers, which account for a significant share of global cargo traffic, reported an 8% increase in demand alongside a 5.1% rise in capacity.

European airlines also maintained strong growth, posting a 6.7% increase in cargo demand while expanding capacity by 2.2%.

Meanwhile, airlines in Latin America and the Caribbean registered a more modest increase of 1.9% in demand, although capacity growth of 5.6% outpaced market expansion.

Middle East Carriers Remain Under Pressure

The Middle East remained the weakest-performing region in global air cargo markets.

According to IATA, carriers in the region experienced an 8.9% decline in cargo demand compared with May 2025, while capacity fell by 9.2%.

Walsh attributed the decline primarily to the ongoing effects of regional conflicts and disruptions to traditional trade routes.

"May's strong performance coupled with macro-economic factors give cautious optimism for air cargo's prospects over the remainder of the year," he said.

He added that growth in global trade and manufacturing output, combined with airlines' ability to adapt to changing demand patterns and supply chain requirements, continued to support the sector.

Global Trade Growth Continues to Support Air Freight

IATA noted that global trade expanded by 5% year-on-year, marking the 25th consecutive month of annual growth.

Meanwhile, the global manufacturing output Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 53.5 in May, signaling continued industrial expansion.

However, the new export orders index remained below the critical 50-point threshold at 49.6, indicating that the current growth in air cargo demand is being driven by specific trade corridors rather than a broad-based recovery in global exports.

Jet fuel prices also provided some relief to airlines, falling by 16.3% month-on-month in May. Nevertheless, fuel costs remained 93.5% higher than they were a year earlier.

Which Trade Routes are Driving Global Air Cargo Growth?

Among major international air cargo corridors, the Asia-North America route recorded the strongest growth, with volumes increasing by 19.9% year-on-year.

Other major growth corridors included:

• Africa-Asia, up 14.1%;
• Intra-European routes, up 11.5%;
• Europe-Asia routes, up 10%.

In contrast, trade corridors involving the Gulf region remained under significant pressure. Cargo traffic between Europe and the Middle East declined by 19.8%, while shipments between the Middle East and Asia fell by 16.5%.

The latest figures suggest that while global air cargo markets continue to expand, growth remains uneven and increasingly concentrated in selected regions and trade corridors rather than across the global economy as a whole.