Global air cargo demand up 6% in May. Photo: Shutterstock Global air cargo demand continued to grow in May 2026, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reporting a 6.0% year-on-year increase in cargo ton-kilometers (CTK), driven by strong performances in Africa, North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Air cargo capacity also expanded, rising 1.9% compared with May 2025, while international operations recorded demand growth of 6.5% and capacity growth of 2.8%.
"Air cargo demand grew 6% year-on-year in May, with Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North American regions all reporting above-trend growth," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General. "Carriers in the Middle East, however, reported a combined contraction of 8.9% year-on-year as war-related impacts continued."
Walsh said improving trade and manufacturing activity, along with stronger yields and higher load factors, provide cautious optimism for the remainder of 2026 despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
African airlines posted the strongest cargo demand growth in May, with volumes rising 13.3% year-on-year. North American carriers followed with a 10.5% increase, while Asia-Pacific airlines recorded 8.0% growth and European carriers saw demand rise 6.7%.
The Middle East was the only region to record a decline, with cargo demand falling 8.9% as conflict in the region continued to disrupt operations.
Among major international trade corridors, Asia–North America recorded the strongest growth, with cargo volumes increasing 19.9% year-on-year. Africa–Asia also continued its strong momentum, rising 14.1%, while Europe–Asia grew 10%.
By contrast, routes linked to the Middle East remained under pressure. Europe–Middle East traffic fell 19.8%, while Middle East–Asia declined 16.5%, reflecting the continued impact of regional instability.
IATA also noted that global trade expanded by 5% in May, marking 25 consecutive months of annual growth, while manufacturing output remained positive. However, new export orders stayed below the expansion threshold, suggesting air cargo growth continues to be driven by selected trade lanes rather than broad-based global export demand.
Earlier in June, IATA said that the global airline industry is facing an important financial setback in 2026, with profits expected to sharply drop due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the steep rise in fuel prices.