Air Cargo Demand Climbs 11.2% in February, IATA Reports

Global air cargo demand rose 11.2% year over year in February, outpacing capacity growth and signaling continued momentum despite emerging geopolitical and fuel-related challenges, according to International Air Transport Association.

Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers, increased 11.2% compared to February 2025, while capacity grew 8.5%. International operations saw slightly stronger gains, with demand up 11.6% and capacity rising 9.8%.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the results reflect solid underlying performance, even accounting for seasonal factors such as pre-Lunar New Year shipping activity. However, he cautioned that escalating conflict in the Middle East toward the end of the month introduces uncertainty for the remainder of the year, particularly due to rising fuel costs, supply constraints and disruption at key cargo hubs.

Broader economic indicators also supported air cargo demand. Global goods trade grew 5.2% year over year in January, while manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory in February, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index at 53.1. New export orders also strengthened, reaching their highest level since mid-2021. Meanwhile, jet fuel prices rose 1.2% year over year, with continued volatility in refining margins.

Regionally, growth was strongest in Africa, where demand increased 21.0%, followed by the Middle East at 16.5% and Asia-Pacific at 13.6%. North American carriers reported a 9.4% increase, while European airlines saw demand rise 6.9%. Latin America posted the weakest performance, with demand up just 0.7%.

Capacity growth tracked below demand across most regions, contributing to a 1.1 percentage point increase in global cargo load factor, which reached 46.0%.

Air freight volumes expanded across all major trade lanes in February. Africa–Asia led growth with a 61.9% increase, marking eight consecutive months of expansion. Other key corridors, including Europe–Asia and Middle East–Asia, also posted double-digit gains, while transatlantic and intra-Asia routes continued their steady upward trends.

For ground handlers and cargo operators, the sustained demand growth, paired with uneven capacity expansion and ongoing disruption risks, underscores the importance of maintaining operational flexibility and efficiency across cargo networks.