Air Cargo Demand Up 5.6% in January, Air Passenger Demand Growth Up 3.8%

Our Bureau - : Mar 2, 2026 - : 10:14 pm

Total air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 5.6% in January this year compared to January 2025 levels while air passenger demand growth, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.8%, said the International Air Transport...

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International air passenger demand rose 5.9% compared to January 2025 while capacity was up 5.8% year-on-year. Domestic demand increased 0.1% compared to January 2025. Capacity was down -0.4% year-on-year.

All regions expanded, but year-on-year growth decelerated, particularly in Asia Pacific. Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 4.4% year-on-year increase in demand while capacity increased 5.2% year-on-year. European carriers had a 6.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity in the region increased 5.7% year-on-year.

North American carriers saw a 3.4% year-on-year increase in demand while capacity increased 2.6%. In the Middle East, carriers had a 7.2% year-on-year increase in demand while capacity increased 7.8% year-on-year. Latin American airlines saw a 11.4% year-on-year increase in demand. and capacity climbed 8.9% year-on-year. African airlines had an 11.7% year-on-year increase in demand, with capacity up 10.1% year-on-year.

Air Cargo: Air cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 3.6% compared to January 2025 . The corresponding increase was 5.7% for international operations.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 7.8% year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in January, maintaining the region's role as the primary engine of the industry expansion. Middle Eastern carriers saw a 9.3% year-on-year increase in demand. African airlines saw a 18.2% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in January, the strongest growth of all regions. European airlines saw a 6.9% year-on-year increase in demand. North American carriers saw a 0.5% year-on-year decline for air cargo in January.

"The demand for air cargo had a robust start to 2026, recording 5.6% year-on-year growth in January. At the regional level, the story is more polarized. Carriers in Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Europe all reported faster growth than the global average. In contrast, carriers in the Americas reported aggregate contractions. The resilience of air cargo will continue to be tested in the coming months. In addition to the long-running uncertainties of evolving US trade policies, the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East will both weigh heavy on global supply chains," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.

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