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Global air cargo demand continued its upward trajectory in May 2026, recording solid growth despite geopolitical tensions and lingering economic uncertainties, with African airlines emerging as the best-performing carriers worldwide.
The latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that total air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 6.0 per cent compared with May 2025. International cargo operations performed even better, posting a 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase.
The industry’s cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), also expanded, rising by 1.9 per cent globally and 2.8 per cent on international routes, reflecting airlines’ continued efforts to match capacity with growing demand.
IATA Director General, Willie Walsh, described the latest performance as encouraging, saying the sector had demonstrated remarkable resilience despite ongoing disruptions in parts of the world.
According to him, air cargo demand strengthened across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, while airlines operating in the Middle East continued to grapple with the consequences of regional conflicts.
“Air cargo demand grew six per cent year-on-year 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 year-on-year as war-related impacts continued,” Walsh said.
He noted that improving macroeconomic indicators provided cautious optimism for the remainder of the year, pointing to expanding global trade, rising manufacturing output and airlines’ ability to adapt their operations to changing market conditions.
Walsh added that stronger cargo yields and higher aircraft load factors were helping airlines offset persistently elevated fuel costs, although uncertainties in the Middle East continued to cast a shadow over parts of the aviation industry.
Industry data showed that the overall cargo load factor climbed by 1.8 percentage points to 46.3 per cent, indicating improved utilisation of available cargo space.
Africa recorded the strongest regional performance, with airlines on the continent posting an impressive 13.3 per cent increase in cargo demand compared with May last year, while capacity grew by just 1.3 per cent.
The region also achieved a cargo load factor of 46.9 per cent, underscoring efficient use of available freight capacity.
North American carriers followed closely with 10.5 per cent growth in demand and a 2.4 per cent rise in capacity.
Asia-Pacific airlines, which account for the largest share of global air cargo traffic at 35.8 per cent, recorded an 8.0 per cent increase in demand alongside a 5.1 per cent expansion in capacity.
European airlines also delivered a strong performance, registering 6.7 per cent growth in cargo demand and a 2.2 per cent increase in available capacity. Europe maintained the highest regional cargo load factor at 53.9 per cent.
In contrast, Middle Eastern airlines remained the weakest performers, with cargo demand declining by 8.9 per cent, while capacity contracted by 9.2 per cent as the continuing regional conflict disrupted important international trade routes.
Latin American and Caribbean carriers posted more modest growth of 1.9 per cent, although available cargo capacity expanded by 5.6 per cent.
