IATA: Air cargo demand returned to growth in April

Air cargo demand returned to growth in April, rebounding after a contraction recorded in March linked to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, according to the latest data released by IATA. 
In April, global air cargo traffic measured in cargo tonne-kilometres rose by 4% year-on-year. Capacity, however, declined slightly by 0.4%, leading to an improvement in the cargo load factor, which increased by 1.9 percentage points compared with the same period last year to reach 46%. 
The recovery follows a 4.8% year-on-year drop in March, when disruption linked to the Middle East conflict significantly impacted global air freight flows. 
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the April performance reflects underlying strength in Asia-linked trade lanes, but warned that the broader environment remains highly unstable. 
“Air cargo demand grew 4% year-on-year in April, driven by strong Asia-linked trade flows,” Walsh said. “But this positive news masks a more complex operating environment. Severe disruption at major Gulf hubs due to the war in the Middle East continued to reshape trade routes and constrain capacity on key corridors.” 
He added that dedicated freighter aircraft have been central in absorbing demand and maintaining supply chain continuity despite ongoing disruptions. “Air cargo is once again keeping supply chains moving amid trade disruptions,” he noted, while cautioning that geopolitical volatility and elevated operating costs will continue to test the sector in the coming months. 
Regional performance highlights the uneven impact of current market conditions. Middle Eastern carriers recorded the sharpest decline, with demand falling 18.2% year-on-year, reflecting the direct impact of the conflict and associated disruption. 
Airlines in the Asia Pacific region recorded the strongest growth at 10.5% supported by strong regional trade flows and also European carriers (6%) and North American airlines (5%). Latin American and Caribbean operators saw a decline (-2.8%) whilst African airlines saw an increase (7.7%). 
Trade lane data also showed major divergence. Africa-Asia and Asia-Europe routes were the growth drivers globally, while intra-Asia flows were flat, buoyed by strong regional demand. Gulf-linked corridors were heavily disrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 
Other market measures also pointed to mixed conditions. Jet fuel prices surged 121.1% year-on-year in April, while crude oil prices rose 77.7%, adding pressure on operating costs across the industry. 
At the same time, manufacturing indicators remained in expansion territory. The Purchasing Managers’ Index rose by 1.9 points to 53.4, while new export orders reached 50.2, both above the 50-point threshold that signals growth. 
According to IATA, these macroeconomic indicators suggest underlying support for continued air cargo demand, even as geopolitical uncertainty and energy costs remain key risk factors for the sector.