-
Global air cargo demand posted a 4.0% year-on-year increase in April 2026, according to the International Air Transport Association
-
The ongoing war in the Middle East is, however, redrawing trade routes and squeezing capacity on key corridors
-
Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers, rose 4.0% compared to April 2025
-
Available cargo capacity contracted by 0.4% over the same period
Global air cargo demand posted a 4.0% year-on-year increase in April 2026, buoyed by strong trade flows tied to Asia — but the growth story comes with a significant caveat: the ongoing war in the Middle East is redrawing trade routes and squeezing capacity on key corridors, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement.
Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose 4.0% compared to April 2025, while available cargo capacity (ACTK) actually contracted by 0.4% over the same period.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh described the operating environment as complex, noting that dedicated freighters were doing much of the heavy lifting to keep supply chains moving amid geopolitical disruptions, and warned that elevated operating costs and continued uncertainty would test the sector in the months ahead.
READ: Global air cargo demand, capacity fall in March 2026 – IATA
Headwinds in the operating environment
The growth figures mask several pressures bearing down on the industry. Global trade contracted 2.1% month-on-month in March — after four straight months of expansion — underlining how vulnerable trade momentum remains to geopolitical shocks. Jet fuel prices surged 121.1% year-on-year in April, while crude oil prices climbed 77.7%.
On a brighter note, global manufacturing sentiment remained in expansion territory, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index rising 1.9 points to 53.4 in April and the new export orders PMI reaching 50.2 — both above the 50-point threshold that signals growth.
Regional breakdown
The divergence across regions was stark. Asia-Pacific carriers led all regions with a 10.5% demand increase, followed by African airlines at 7.7%, European carriers at 6.0%, and North American carriers at 5.0%.
The Middle East told a sharply different story. Middle Eastern carriers saw demand fall 18.2% year-on-year — the worst performance of any region — while capacity on those routes dropped 22.9%. Latin American and Caribbean carriers also recorded a decline, with demand down 2.8%.
Trade Lanes: winners and losers
The Europe–Asia corridor was the standout performer, posting 16.2% growth on the back of 38 consecutive months of expansion, while intra-Asia traffic rose 13.0% — its 30th straight month of growth. The Africa–Asia lane gained 12.8% for a 10th consecutive month of expansion.
Gulf-linked routes bore the brunt of the conflict’s impact. The Europe–Middle East lane fell 25.9% and Middle East–Asia declined 22.4%, both recording a second straight month of contraction. The Europe–North America corridor also slipped 1.0%.
