Air cargo demand rises 6 per cent in May despite Middle East disruption
Global air cargo demand rose 6 per cent year-on-year in May, supported by stronger trade and manufacturing activity, although disruption linked to the war in the Middle East continued to weigh heavily on carriers in the region, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased…
Global air cargo demand rose6 per cent year-on-year in May, supported by stronger trade and manufacturing activity, although disruption linked to the war in the Middle East continued to weigh heavily on carriers in the region, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by6 per centcompared with May 2025, while international operations rose by6. 5 per cent. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), grew at a slower pace of1. 9 per cent, or2. 8 per centfor international operations. The figures point to a stronger month for air freight, with demand growth outpacing capacity and helping lift the global cargo load factor by1. 8 percentage pointsto46. 3 per cent. IATA director general Willie Walsh said air cargo demand had grown “6 per cent year-on-year in May”, with Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America all reporting above-trend growth. However, he said Middle East carriers recorded a combined contraction of8. 9 per centyear-on-year, as war-related effects continued to disrupt parts of the industry. “May’s strong performance coupled with macro-economic factors give cautious optimism for air cargo’s prospects over the remainder of the year,” Walsh said, adding that trade and manufacturing output were both growing, while airlines had adjusted operations to match shifting demand patterns and supply chain needs. He also said yield growth and higher load factors were helping carriers absorb higher fuel costs, although he cautioned that “it’s still a tough year”, particularly as Middle East uncertainty continued to affect parts of the sector. The strongest regional performance came fromAfrica, where airlines recorded a13. 3 per centincrease in air cargo demand in May, while capacity rose by just1. 3 per cent. This pushed the region’s cargo load factor up by5 percentage pointsto46. 9 per cent. North American carriers also posted a strong month, with demand rising10. 5 per centyear-on-year and capacity increasing by2. 4 per cent. The region’s cargo load factor climbed by3 percentage pointsto41 per cent. In Asia-Pacific, the world’s largest air cargo region by market share, demand rose8 per cent, while capacity increased by5. 1 per cent. The region accounted for35. 8 per centof global industry CTKs in 2025. European carriers saw demand increase by6. 7 per centin May, with capacity up2. 2 per cent. Europe also recorded the highest regional cargo load factor, at53. 9 per cent, after an annual increase of2. 3 percentage points. By contrast, Middle East carriers recorded the weakest performance, with demand falling8. 9 per centand capacity down9. 2 per cent. The region’s cargo load factor remained broadly stable, rising by0. 2 percentage pointsto46. 5 per cent. Latin American and Caribbean carriers reported more modest growth, with demand up1. 9 per centand capacity rising5. 6 per cent, pushing the cargo load factor down by1. 2 percentage pointsto34. 8 per cent. IATA said the wider operating environment remained mixed. Global trade rose5 per centyear-on-year, marking25 consecutive monthsof annual growth, while manufacturing activity remained supportive. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to53. 5in May, remaining above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. However, the New Export Orders Index stayed below that threshold, at49. 6. Fuel also remained a pressure point. Jet fuel prices fell by16. 3 per centmonth-on-month in May, but were still93. 5 per centhigher than a year earlier. Performance also varied sharply across major trade lanes. TheAsia-North Americacorridor led growth, with demand up19. 9 per cent, marking a fourth consecutive month of expansion. Africa-Asiarose14. 1 per cent, extending its growth streak to 11 months. TheEurope-Asiaroute grew by10 per cent, continuing a run of39 consecutive monthsof expansion, while intra-European air cargo increased by11. 5 per cent. However, Gulf-linked corridors remained under severe pressure. Demand on theEurope-Middle Easttrade lane fell19. 8 per cent, whileMiddle East-Asiadeclined16. 5 per cent, with both routes recording a third consecutive month of contraction. TheEurope-North Americacorridor was broadly flat, rising by just0. 4 per cent, while intra-Asia traffic increased by5. 5 per cent, extending its growth streak to31 months.