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Air cargo markets in the Asia Pacific sustained demand growth in August 2026 as it continued to benefit from rising export activity and brisk demand for artificial intelligence-related goods
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International air cargo demand grew 1.1% in August to 6.418 billion freight tonne kilometers, while
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E-commerce shipments to Europe, however, showed some weakness following the introduction of charges on small parcels
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For the first eight months of the year, international air cargo demand rose by a strong 5.5% year-on-year to 50.388 billion FTK
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International passenger traffic, meanwhile, remained soft as some airlines further rationalized capacity amid persistently elevated jet fuel prices, and airspace restrictions associated with the Middle East conflict
Air cargo markets in the Asia Pacific sustained demand growth in August 2026 as it continued to benefit from rising export activity and brisk demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related goods, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
International air cargo demand grew 1.1% in August to 6.418 billion freight tonne kilometers (FTK) from 6.349 billion FTKs in the same month last year, based on preliminary data from the AAPA.
But while rising export activity and demand for AI-related goods continued to drive growth, e-commerce shipments to Europe showed some weakness following the introduction of charges on small parcels, AAPA noted.
READ: E-commerce sellers to EU must now pay €3 duty for under €150 packages
Offered freight capacity expanded by 1.6% to 10.821 billion available freight tonne kilometers (FATK), resulting in the average international freight load factor falling by 0.3 percentage points to 59.3% for the month.
READ: Air cargo demand growth in Asia Pacific slows to 1.1% in July
For the first eight months of the year, international air cargo demand rose by a strong 5.5% year-on-year to 50.388 billion FTK, while offered freight capacity during the period grew 4.6% to 84.399 billion FATK. The average international freight load factor for January-August 2026 slightly increased by 0.2 percentage points to 59.7%
Passenger traffic still soft
International passenger traffic, meanwhile, remained soft as some airlines further rationalised capacity amid persistently elevated jet fuel prices, and airspace restrictions associated with the Middle East conflict.
Higher airfares also weighed on regional demand, while long-haul traffic remained relatively resilient, including on Asia – Europe routes.
Overall, Asia Pacific airlines carried 33.5 million international passengers in August, 0.6% fewer than a year earlier. Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rose by 1.8% year-on-year. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, increased by 1.5%, lifting the average international passenger load factor by 0.2 percentage points to 83.2%.
For the first eight months of the year, Asia Pacific airlines carried 259.3 million international passengers, 2.1% more than in the same period last year.
“Despite the year-to-date growth in traffic, the operating environment remains challenging,” AAPA director general Wong Hong said.
“Elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies are raising costs, while higher fares weigh on price-sensitive travellers. These factors continue to affect profitability, with outcomes varying across individual airlines,” he added.
Looking ahead, he said regional economic growth and trade activity should continue to support demand for air travel and cargo, although growth is likely to remain uneven across markets.
“Geopolitical developments and changes in trade policies add some uncertainty to the outlook for the remainder of the year,” he said.
