AIR CARGO DEMAND RECORDS STRONG GROWTH IN SEPTEMBER
On 29 October, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its latest air cargo market data for September 2026, showing an acceleration in global demand, with growth recorded across all regions.
Total air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), increased by 7.7% compared with September 2025 (+8.6% for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), increased by 2.7% year-on-year (+3.3% for international operations). European carriers reported a 4.5% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand during September, while capacity decreased by 1.6%. Demand on the Europe–Asia trade lane increased by 6.0%, marking 43 consecutive months of growth. In contrast, Europe–Middle East traffic declined by 18.0%, extending the contraction in this trade lane to seven consecutive months.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, noted that stronger global trade and manufacturing activity, alongside AI-related shipments, continued to support demand. However, she warned that rising fuel prices were putting pressure on airline profitability, with jet fuel prices increasing by 103.4% year-on-year in September.
Source: IATA