**Global Air Cargo Demand Rises 3.9 Percent in July 2026**
Global air cargo demand experienced a notable increase of 3.9 percent year-on-year in July 2026, as reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This growth was observed across all regions, highlighting a robust recovery in the air freight sector. The demand for international air cargo operations saw an even more significant rise of 4.7 percent compared to July 2025.
In terms of capacity, the total available cargo tonne-kilometres increased by 1.7 percent, while international capacity grew by 1.8 percent. This expansion in capacity contributed to a rise in the global cargo load factor, which increased by one percentage point to reach 46 percent.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's senior vice president for sustainability and chief economist, noted that airlines in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America regions accounted for over 90 percent of the overall demand increase. She pointed out that dedicated freighters gained market share as belly-hold traffic declined, suggesting a shift in demand towards larger or specialized shipments and the operational flexibility that freighters provide.
The outlook for the air cargo sector remains broadly positive, bolstered by ongoing manufacturing activity, rising export orders, and overall global trade, which increased by 7.5 percent year-on-year. However, Thomsen cautioned that airlines must remain vigilant regarding potential challenges, including rising fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, and tariff uncertainties.
Despite the positive demand trends, airline costs are under pressure due to rising jet fuel prices, which surged by 12.2 percent compared to June and are 56.9 percent higher than the previous year. This increase in operational costs could pose challenges for airlines as they navigate the evolving market landscape.
In terms of regional performance, North American carriers reported the strongest growth, with cargo demand rising by 4.8 percent, even as capacity decreased by 1.5 percent. This resulted in a significant increase in the region's load factor, which rose by 2.5 percentage points to 41.2 percent.
European airlines followed closely, achieving a demand growth of 4.4 percent while increasing capacity by 1.3 percent. Europe recorded the highest cargo load factor in the industry at 51.1 percent, reflecting a 1.5 percentage point increase from July 2025.
Asia-Pacific carriers also saw a demand increase of 4.1 percent, with capacity rising by 3 percent. Their load factor reached 49.5 percent, marking a 0.5 percentage point annual increase. Meanwhile, Latin American and Caribbean airlines recorded a demand growth of 4.1 percent, although capacity expanded more rapidly at 7 percent, leading to a decline in the region's load factor by 0.9 percentage points to 32.3 percent.
Middle Eastern carriers experienced a modest demand increase of 1.7 percent alongside a 4 percent rise in capacity, resulting in a decline in their load factor by one percentage point to 44.1 percent. In contrast, African airlines recorded the weakest demand growth at 1.1 percent, with capacity increasing by 4.1 percent, leading to a drop in their load factor by 1.4 percentage points to 45.8 percent.
Performance varied significantly across major international trade lanes. The Asia–North America corridor saw the strongest growth at 9.2 percent, marking its sixth consecutive month of expansion. Cargo traffic within Asia increased by 6.1 percent, extending its growth streak to 33 months. Demand between Europe and Asia rose by 3.1 percent, continuing a 41-month growth trend, while the Europe–North America route recorded a 2.1 percent increase, marking its third consecutive monthly rise.
However, certain routes faced challenges, particularly those linked to the Gulf region, which continued to experience disruptions due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Cargo demand between Europe and the Middle East fell by 16.1 percent, while traffic between the Middle East and Asia declined by 14.1 percent, marking a fifth consecutive month of contraction. The Africa–Asia trade lane also struggled, with demand decreasing by 14.7 percent for the second consecutive month.
In summary, while global air cargo demand showed a positive trend in July 2026, various regional performances and trade lane dynamics highlight the complexities and challenges that the sector continues to face in a fluctuating global environment.