AIR CARGO DEMAND DECLINES IN FEBRUARY
On 31 March, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its latest data on global air freight markets, reporting a slight decline in demand growth.
Total demand for air cargo, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), fell by 0.1% in February 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, marking the first decline since mid-2023. International demand, however, grew by 0.4%. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), decreased by 0.4% year-on-year (1.1% for international operations).
European carriers saw a 0.1% drop in demand, with capacity declining by 0.2% year-on-year. Among key tradelines, Europe–Asia and Transatlantic routes recorded growth, while intra-European traffic declined.
IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, attributed the decline on the unique circumstances of February 2024, which benefited from Chinese New Year demand, sea lane disruptions, and an e-commerce surge. He noted that rising trade tensions, particularly potential tariff-driven policies, could impact the sector's outlook. He urged governments to prioritise dialogue over protectionist measures.
Source: IATA