August 12, 2026
According to data for June 2026 released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) global air freight demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 8.5% compared to June 2025 (9.6% for international operations).
Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 4.4% compared to June 2025 (4.9% for international operations).
IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, said: "While North America was the strongest contributor to growth, demand in all regions was in positive territory compared to last year. 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."
North American carriers saw a 13.1% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in June, the strongest performance of all regions. Capacity increased by 6.2% year-on-year.
European carriers saw a 6.9% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June. Capacity increased by 3.7% year-on-year.
Source: IATA