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Air cargo markets in the Asia Pacific saw firm growth in September 2026, benefiting from stronger global manufacturing activity, increased purchases of raw materials and components, and sustained demand for AI-related goods
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During the month, international air cargo demand grew 6.4% to 6.442 billion freight tonne kilometres, outpacing the 4.9% expansion in offered freight capacity to 10.682 billion available freight tonne kilometers
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Asia Pacific airlines carried a combined total of 30.4 million international passengers, a marginal 0.7% increase
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Year-end holiday travel should lend support to passenger demand, while continued investment in AI infrastructure and associated trade flows bode well for air cargo markets
Air cargo markets in the Asia Pacific saw firm growth in September 2026, benefiting from stronger global manufacturing activity, increased purchases of raw materials and components, and sustained demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related goods.
During the month, international air cargo demand grew 6.4% to 6.442 billion freight tonne kilometres (FTK), outpacing the 4.9% expansion in offered freight capacity to 10.682 billion available freight tonne kilometers (AFTK), according to preliminary figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
As a result, the average international freight load factor rose by 0.8 percentage points to 60.3% for the month.
For January to September 2026, international cargo demand also rose 5.6% to 56.835 billion FTK, while offered freight capacity expanded 4.6% to 95.059 billion AFTK. Freight load factor for the first nine months of the year slightly improved by 0.6 percentage points to 59.8%.
Slight increase in passengers
International passenger numbers, meanwhile, edged up from a year earlier, following five consecutive months of year-on-year declines.
Asia Pacific airlines in September 2026 carried a combined total of 30.4 million international passengers, a marginal 0.7% increase compared to a year earlier. Growth in passenger demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), accelerated to 5.9%, while available seat capacity expanded by 6.8%, resulting in a 0.6 percentage point decline in the average international passenger load factor to 80.2%.
AAPA said performance remained uneven across markets, with capacity reductions contributing to lower passenger traffic on some routes, while longer-haul markets continued to grow, supported in part by passengers choosing routings that avoided Middle East hubs.
For the first nine months of the year, Asia Pacific airlines carried 289.5 million international passengers, 1.9% higher than the 284 million international passengers in the same period last year.
“The latest results highlight the resilience of demand amid a difficult operating environment,” AAPA director general Wong Hong said.
“Passenger markets continued to adjust to changes in capacity and travel patterns, while stronger manufacturing activity and demand for AI-related goods supported cargo flows. Nevertheless, elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies continue to put pressure on operating costs and profitability.”
READ: Asia Pacific air cargo sustains growth in Aug on AI-related goods
Looking ahead, Hong said, “Year-end holiday travel should lend support to passenger demand, while continued investment in AI infrastructure and associated trade flows bode well for air cargo markets.”
He noted, however, that higher travel and shipping costs could temper growth, while geopolitical tensions and changes in trade policies remain key uncertainties.
