Global Air Cargo Demand 6.0 Pct Up In May 2026 – IATA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- Total demand of global air cargo, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, increased by 6.0 per cent in May 2026, compared to May 2025 levels (6.5 per cent for international operations), according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres, increased by 1.9 per cent compared to May 2025 (2.8 per cent for international operations).

IATA director-general Willie Walsh said air cargo demand grew 6.0 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in May, with Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and North American regions all reporting above-trend growth.

“Carriers in the Middle East, however, reported a combined contraction of 8.9 per cent y-o-y as war-related impacts continued,” he said in a statement.

He added that May’s strong performance, coupled with macroeconomic factors gave cautious optimism for air cargo’s prospects over the remainder of the year.

“Trade and manufacturing output are both growing.”

Walsh said airlines have adapted operations to align with shifting demand patterns and supply chain needs.

Meanwhile, yield growth and higher load factors are helping to recoup higher fuel costs. It’s still a tough year, particularly as West Asia uncertainties weigh heavily on parts of the industry, but robust demand and airline resilience are clear.

Meanwhile, IATA said that in May, Asia-Pacific airlines recorded an 8.0 per cent y-o-y increase in air cargo demand, while capacity rose by 5.1 per cent while North American carriers posted a stronger performance, with air cargo demand up 10.5 per cent y-o-y and capacity increasing by 2.4 per cent .

European carriers also saw a 6.7 per cent increase in demand for air cargo alongside a 2.2 per cent y-o-y increase in capacity.

In contrast, Middle Eastern carriers experienced a decline, with air cargo demand falling 8.9 per cent y-o-y, marking the weakest performance among all regions, while capacity also dropped by 9.2 per cent.

On the other hand, IATA noted that the global trade increased by 5.0 per cent y-o-y, extending 25 months of consecutive annual growth.

Jet fuel prices fell by 16.3 per cent month-on-month (m-o-m) in May but remained 93.5 per cent above year-earlier levels.

“Global manufacturing activity remained supportive in May, but export orders weakened.

“The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 53.5, while the New Export Orders Index stayed below the 50-mark at 49.6, suggesting air cargo growth was supported by selected trade flows rather than a broad-based rise in global exports,” it said.

Additionally, IATA said that on trade lane growth, air cargo performance diverged across major trade lanes in May.

Asia-North America led growth, followed by Africa-Asia, intra-Europe and Europe-Asia, while Gulf-linked corridors remained severely disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, it said.

-- BERNAMA