The international air cargo market experienced robust growth in April, with total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), increasing by 5.8% compared to April 2024 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA says international operations saw an even stronger rise of 6.5%. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), also grew significantly by 6.3% year-on-year, with international capacity up 6.9%.
“Air cargo demand grew strongly in April, building on March’s solid performance,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “Seasonal demand for fashion and consumer goods, coupled with front-loading ahead of anticipated US tariff changes and lower jet fuel prices, have all contributed to this boost. With available capacity at record levels and yields improving, the outlook for air cargo is encouraging.”
Walsh acknowledged the broader challenges in global trade, noting, “While April brought good news, stresses in world trade are no secret. Shifts in trade policy, particularly in the US, are already reshaping demand and export dynamics. Airlines will need to remain flexible as the situation develops over the coming months.”
Operating Environment Highlights:
- Industrial Production and Trade: World industrial production rose 3.2% in March year-on-year. Air cargo growth outpaced global goods trade, which increased by 6.5% over the previous month.
- Jet Fuel Prices: Jet fuel prices continued their downward trend, dropping 21.2% year-on-year and 4.1% month-on-month, marking the third consecutive monthly decrease.
- Manufacturing PMI: The global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reached 50.5 in April, indicating expansion for the fourth consecutive month. However, the PMI for new export orders fell 2.8 points to 47.2, remaining below the 50-threshold for growth.
April Regional Performance:
- Asia-Pacific airlines led the growth with a 10.0% year-on-year demand increase for air cargo, while capacity expanded by 9.4%.
- Latin American carriers also demonstrated strong performance, seeing a 10.1% year-on-year increase in demand, the highest among all regions. Capacity for these carriers grew by 8.5%.
- North American carriers experienced a 4.2% year-on-year demand growth, with capacity increasing by 4.6%.
- European carriers saw a 2.9% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo, and capacity increased by 3.3%.
- African airlines reported a 4.7% year-on-year increase in demand, with a significant capacity increase of 9.7%.
- Middle Eastern carriers had the slowest growth among regions, with a 2.3% year-on-year increase in demand, while capacity rose by 5.5%.
