Demand for air cargo increased by 8.5 per cent year on year during June, according to the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to the organisation’s monthly report, international demand – measured in cargo tonne-kilometres – increased by 9.6 per cent compared with June 2025, while global cargo capacity rose by 4.4 per cent.
The North America region made the strongest contribution to overall growth, while the Asia-North America trade lane had a rise of 14.7 per cent on the previous year during its fifth consecutive month of growth. The Europe-Asia lane grew for the 40th consecutive month, with a 7.1 per cent increase, Africa-Asia was up by 0.9 per cent, and the intra-Asia trade lane grew by 7.2 per cent, in the 32nd consecutive month of growth.
However, trade in the Europe-Middle East lane fell by 41.1 per cent and the Middle East-Asia lane dropped by 4.1 per cent, both falling for the fourth consecutive month as the Gulf crisis continues to disrupt trade in the region. Commenting on the figures, outgoing IATA Director General Willie Walsh said: ‘Demand growth outpaced capacity at the global level and in all regions except Latin America and the Caribbean. Demand also grew faster than global trade, supported by high-value technology products and urgent shipments. While this all gives strong reasons for optimism in the second half of 2026, risks remain – continuing hostilities in the Middle East and a renewed focus on tariffs by the US among them.’