Kuala lumpur: Global air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, witnessed a 4.0% increase in April 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This growth was primarily led by Asia-Pacific airlines, which experienced the most significant demand rise among all regions.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the capacity for global air cargo, assessed in available cargo tonne-kilometres, saw a slight decrease of 0.4% compared to April 2025. IATA director-general Willie Walsh highlighted that while the year-on-year growth for April was driven by robust Asia-linked trade flows, the overall operating environment remained challenging. Disruptions at major Gulf hubs due to ongoing conflicts in West Asia have reshaped trade routes and constrained capacity on key corridors.
IATA reported that Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 10.5% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in April, with a corresponding capacity increase of 5.3%. Carriers from the Asia-Pacific region played a crucial role in global cargo growth, accounting for more than half of the industry's incremental volumes. The region's strong intra-Asian activity and resilient trans-Pacific flows maintained its momentum.
Furthermore, Europe and North America also made positive contributions, benefiting from improving international flows and robust corridor activity with Asia. Growth among African carriers was buoyed by strong activity on Asia-linked networks. However, the global trade environment faced challenges, with jet fuel prices rising sharply by 121.1% year-on-year in April, alongside a 77.7% increase in crude oil prices. Global trade contracted by 2.1% month-on-month in March, showing its vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.
The purchasing managers' index (PMI) increased by 1.9 points to 53.4, while the PMI for new export orders reached 50.2, indicating conditions remain supportive of air cargo demand. Walsh emphasized that air cargo continues to keep supply chains active despite trade disruptions, with dedicated freighters contributing significantly to the growth.
In terms of regional performances, North American carriers saw a 5.0% year-on-year increase in demand, European carriers rose by 6.0%, and African airlines expanded by 7.7%. Conversely, West Asian carriers experienced an 18.2% year-on-year decrease in demand, marking the weakest performance among all regions. Latin American and Caribbean carriers also saw a 2.8% decline in air cargo demand last month.
IATA, which represents over 360 airlines accounting for approximately 85% of global air traffic, continues to monitor the evolving landscape of global air cargo demand and capacity.