Global air cargo demand increased 4.4 per cent year on year in August 2026, with stronger trade and manufacturing activity helping airlines maintain momentum ahead of the year end peak season.
International cargo demand performed even better, rising 5.3 per cent from August 2025, according to the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association, IATA.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the increase came as global cargo capacity remained largely unchanged. Available Cargo Tonne Kilometres fell 0.1 per cent worldwide, while international capacity edged up 0.1 per cent.
The tighter balance between demand and available capacity helped improve cargo load factors, while freight yields also increased month on month for the first time since April.
The performance comes as global trade continues to expand. World trade grew 6 per cent year on year in July, extending its run of consecutive monthly growth to 33 months.
Manufacturing activity also strengthened in August, with the Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index rising 0.3 points to 53.0. The New Export Orders Index increased 1.4 points to 51.4, suggesting continued demand for manufactured goods moving across international markets.
For airlines, however, the stronger cargo market is arriving alongside significantly higher fuel costs. Jet fuel prices increased 8.3 per cent month on month in August and were 79.2 per cent above their level a year earlier.
IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, said stronger cargo demand and higher load factors were helping airlines recover some of the pressure created by elevated fuel costs.
North American airlines recorded the strongest regional growth, with cargo demand climbing 6.6 per cent year on year. Capacity in the region fell 2.5 per cent, creating a tighter supply and demand balance.
Latin American and Caribbean carriers recorded 5.1 per cent growth, followed by Asia Pacific airlines at 4.3 per cent. European carriers posted 4.1 per cent growth despite a 3.5 per cent reduction in capacity.
The Middle East recorded the weakest regional increase at 1 per cent, while capacity rose 3.3 per cent.
Africa’s cargo demand increased 3 per cent during the period, but the region expanded capacity much faster, with Available Cargo Tonne Kilometres jumping 14 per cent. Its cargo load factor consequently fell by 3.9 percentage points to 36.5 per cent.
Trade routes also showed a mixed picture. The Asia North America corridor recorded the strongest growth, with demand rising 13.2 per cent and extending its growth streak to seven months. The route accounts for 23.5 per cent of industry cargo traffic.
Other major corridors continued to expand, including Europe North America, where demand rose 4.3 per cent, and Europe Asia, which recorded 3.1 per cent growth.
Routes linked to the Middle East remained under pressure amid regional conflict and disruption. Europe Middle East demand fell 12.1 per cent, while Middle East Asia declined 11 per cent, with both corridors recording their sixth consecutive month of contraction.
Africa Asia also weakened, with demand falling 11.9 per cent for a third consecutive month.
The August figures point to a stronger air cargo market heading into the final months of 2026, but the uneven relationship between demand and capacity across regions could remain important for airlines and logistics operators.
For African carriers and freight businesses, the sharp rise in available capacity compared with the more modest increase in demand highlights the challenge of converting expanded connectivity into stronger cargo volumes and sustainable commercial returns.
