Air cargo weathers Middle East turmoil

Global air cargo demand rose by 4% in April compared to the same month last year, according to new figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), even as airlines grappled with significant disruption linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The latest data shows that demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), increased by 4% year-on-year, while available cargo capacity fell by 0.4%, creating a tighter operating environment for freight carriers.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the figures reflected both the resilience of the industry and the growing challenges facing global supply chains.

“Air cargo demand grew 4% year-on-year in April, driven by strong Asia-linked trade flows,” Walsh said. “However, severe disruption at major Gulf hubs due to the war in the Middle East has reshaped trade routes and constrained capacity on key corridors.”

He added that dedicated freighter aircraft were carrying much of the additional demand, helping to maintain the flow of goods despite geopolitical uncertainty and mounting operating costs.

The conflict’s impact was particularly evident in the Middle East, where airlines recorded the weakest regional performance. Cargo demand in the region declined by 18.2% compared to April 2025, while capacity dropped by 22.9%.

In contrast, Asia-Pacific carriers posted the strongest growth globally, with demand increasing by 10.5% and capacity expanding by 5.3%. African airlines also delivered a strong performance, recording a 7.7% increase in cargo demand despite a 9.4% decline in available capacity.

Africa-Asia leads growth

European carriers reported a 6% rise in demand, while North American airlines reported a 5% rise. Latin American and Caribbean operators were the only other region to record a decline, with demand falling by 2.8%.

Trade routes linking Africa and Asia drove global growth, which expanded by 12.8%, marking a tenth consecutive month of growth. Europe-Asia trade remained particularly strong, rising by 16.2% and extending an uninterrupted growth streak to 38 months.

Intra-Asian cargo traffic also continued its upward trend, growing by 13% year-on-year. By contrast, routes linked to the Gulf region suffered sharp contractions. Cargo volumes between Europe and the Middle East fell by 25.9%, while the Middle East-Asia corridor declined by 22.4%.

The April results come against a backdrop of increasing economic pressures. Global trade contracted by 2.1% in March following four consecutive months of growth, highlighting the vulnerability of international commerce to geopolitical shocks.

At the same time, airlines faced a steep rise in fuel costs. Jet fuel prices were 121.1% higher than a year earlier, while crude oil prices climbed by 77.7%.

Despite these challenges, IATA noted that global manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory during April. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.4, while the index tracking new export orders reached 50.2, both above the threshold that signals growth.

Industry analysts say the coming months will reveal whether the air cargo sector can continue to absorb rising costs and geopolitical disruptions while supporting increasingly fragile global supply chains.